The Hotly contested carbon tax is right around the corner and whether we like it or not come April 1st things we use every day are about to get more expensive. One thing topping that list is fuel, with both conventional gasoline and diesel fuel set to rise it could make heading to the pumps even more of a cash sink then it already is. We talked with Brian Ends who is the general manager at the southern plains co-op to find out how much hurt we are going to feel at the pump. 

"Well we are referring to it as the federal fuel charge, that is the description we were given for it. There will be a price increase come April 1st of  4.42 cents a liter for gas at the pumps and 5.37 cents a liter for diesel at the pumps as well. This does have an impact on our farm customers as well, any fuel picked up at our card locks the federal fuel charge will be applied. Any time there's a price increase there will be an impact on business with the way our economy is right now any increase is going to hurt our consumers for sure."

While Farmers are exempt from some fees and taxes when it comes to fuel, dyed diesel picked up at the card lock itself will still have the federal fuel charge applied while dyed diesel delivered directly to a farmers field will not as long as the farmer has completed the necessary paperwork by April 1st. With the government set to fight the carbon tax in court these price increases could charge but for right now and into the foreseeable future, expect your pocketbook to feel just a little bit lighter.