The ripple effects of U.S. military strikes against Iran earlier this year are still being felt at the gas pump and on the farm across Bonneville County and the broader eastern Idaho region, even as prices begin to ease heading into the summer travel season.
Fuel Prices Climbed Sharply, Now Slowly Retreating
When the United States struck Iran in response to a drone attack that President Trump said violated a ceasefire — a conflict that began in late February — fuel prices in eastern Idaho climbed toward $5 per gallon, leaving drivers and businesses absorbing costs far above what they had seen in recent years.
The pressure has begun to ease. AAA reported that gas prices started falling steadily beginning June 1, and by Monday, the average price for regular gasoline in Idaho stood at $4.11 per gallon — down 13 cents from the prior week and 54 cents from the prior month. Even so, that figure remains 69 cents higher than it was one year ago, meaning the financial hangover from the conflict is far from over.
Good 2 Go, which operates 14 fuel locations across eastern Idaho, has seen consumer behavior shift noticeably. Aaron Simpson noted that customers are more deliberate about how often they fill up and how far they drive. “People are sensitive to how much they’re driving and are putting more thought into planning those trips,” he said.
The timing is significant as the Independence Day holiday approaches. Nationwide, an estimated 72.2 million Americans are planning to travel at least 50 miles over the holiday period — a figure that could test any price relief if demand surges at the pump. Industry analysts anticipate it could take anywhere from six to twelve months for fuel costs to return to pre-conflict levels.
Farmers Absorbing a Double Hit: Higher Inputs, Less Water
For agricultural producers across eastern Idaho, the pain at the pump is only part of the story. Fertilizer costs have surged dramatically, compounding what is already shaping up to be one of the most difficult farming years in recent memory.
Bingham Ag Services, a farm and ranch supply operation serving the region, has watched fertilizer prices climb to roughly $400 per ton — nearly double what growers were paying just a few months ago. The underlying driver is the conflict’s effect on global commodity supply chains. Key fertilizer inputs, particularly nitrogen and sulfur-based compounds, are derived from oil. Raw sulfur, much of which the United States sources from the Middle East, has tripled in price since tensions escalated.
Diesel prices were hit especially hard at the height of the conflict, coming close to doubling before pulling back somewhat. For farmers running tractors, irrigation pumps, and harvest equipment, that kind of swing in operating costs can make the difference between a profitable season and a loss.
Burke Higley, who has spent two decades working in the agricultural supply industry, put it plainly: “I’ve been in this industry for 20 years. This is by far the worst year we’ve had.”
Bingham Ag Services is now projecting that farm commodity sales could fall 30 percent by the end of the year compared to 2025 — a decline that would ripple through the entire eastern Idaho agricultural economy, from equipment dealers to rural communities that depend on farming income.
Drought is piling on top of the input-cost crisis. Idaho Governor Brad Little declared a drought emergency covering all 44 counties in the state, meaning farmers in Bonneville County and across eastern Idaho are simultaneously managing water shortages, elevated operating costs, and weakened commodity market conditions.
What Comes Next
With fuel prices slowly declining but still elevated, and fertilizer and sulfur markets likely to remain volatile as long as Middle East uncertainty continues, eastern Idaho farmers and businesses face a prolonged period of financial adjustment. Local consumers can expect some relief at the pump in the weeks ahead, but analysts caution that a full return to pre-conflict prices is months away at best. The statewide drought declaration adds further urgency to an already difficult picture for the region’s agricultural sector.
For broader coverage of economic conditions affecting Idaho communities, visit Idaho News.