The Weekly Fill-Up | December 1-5

December 1, 2025

As the holiday season kicks in and winter fully sets in, energy markets are sending a few good signals—and a few reminders—for farm operations, fleets, and rural energy users across eastern South Dakota. Whether you’re hauling grain, running equipment, or firing up heaters and dryers, this week’s market snapshot has some important insights you’ll want to consider.

Retail diesel prices in the U.S. recently dipped slightly. According to the latest national data, on-highway diesel fell about 3.7 cents per gallon compared to last week. That small drop may not feel like much, but it highlights cooling pressure on diesel demand as harvest wraps up and freight volumes adjust—giving you a window where timing your fuel purchases might be a bit more flexible.

At the same time, forecasts from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) suggest that 2026 could bring slightly lower retail diesel prices nationwide—assuming crude oil prices remain stable or decline. That doesn’t guarantee cheaper fuel here, but it’s a good backdrop when planning for bulk purchases or contract volumes for the winter and spring months.

Propane and heating fuels also deserve attention this week. Nationally, propane inventories remain above seasonal averages heading into winter—which typically helps moderate wholesale and retail prices. For rural South Dakota users—whether for shop heat, grain drying, or facility heating—that means there’s still opportunity to fill tanks without excessive price pressure. However, with heating demand bound to rise soon, locking in volume now will likely make sense for many.

On the maintenance side, as machines are retired from field work and prepped for winter storage or sporadic use, oils, greases, hydraulic fluids, and maintenance supplies move into focus. Delivery lead times and availability for specialty fluids can tighten during cold snaps—something to keep in mind before the first deep freeze hits. Planning ahead now helps avoid costly downtime or scrambling later.

Finally, while demand for Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) may be lower than during peak harvest and freight movement, cold weather can make storage and handling more challenging. If you still run diesel-powered equipment or trucks through the winter, treating DEF supply and tank maintenance as an ongoing priority is smart—especially given slower supply chain movement in rural zones.

In short: this week presents a cautiously positive environment—diesel easing, propane supply looking solid, and maintenance timing under your control. For Sioux Valley Coop patrons, the window to plan, lock in supply, and ready operations for winter is open. Smart decisions now will help keep your farm and equipment “powered locally” through the season.

Sources

U.S. Retail Diesel Price Data — YCharts & EIA pricing reports.
Recent U.S. Diesel Price Movement Analysis — “Diesel Prices Down Slightly as of November 24.”
EIA Short-Term Energy Outlook — 2026 Diesel Price Forecast and Crude Price Context.
National Propane Inventory Levels and Market Outlook — EIA and LPGas Magazine.