All articles tagged with #fertilizer prices
Iowa farmers report volatile costs as fertilizer and diesel prices surge amid global tensions and trade frictions, but many still back Donald Trump, hoping his policies will pay off. They describe razor-thin margins, debt and equipment costs, and concerns about farm succession and mental health, noting subsidies help but don’t solve deeper systemic pressures in farming.
Surging costs for fuel, fertilizer, and plastics driven by the war against Iran are forcing Asian farmers to scale back or delay planting; in central Thailand, a farmer says planting would cost about $33,000 while the expected selling price would be around $22,000, illustrating how the conflict could shrink harvests and threaten global food supplies.
A Farm Bureau survey finds rising fertilizer costs and access shortages tied to shipping disruptions from the Iran war, sparking cutbacks in inputs and crop-switching—especially in the South—as farmers plan to plant more soybeans and fewer corn, risking lower yields and urging White House aid.
CBS News reports that the Iran war is driving up fertilizer and fuel costs, with ammonia up about 20%, urea about 50%, and diesel roughly 43.5%, adding to the burden on U.S. farmers who already saw a 46% rise in farm bankruptcies last year. Growers like Lance Lillibridge say costs are up around 25% from last year, threatening spring planting and potentially higher grocery prices as production costs climb from seed to sale.
Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz is driving inflation beyond oil, hitting helium and fertilizer supplies and threatening semiconductor production, medical imaging, and crops as global ships stall. Helium prices have doubled and urea costs have risen around 30% since the conflict began, with experts warning that a prolonged disruption could lead to shortages even after the strait reopens. The White House is signaling relief for farmers, but markets face months of volatility before normalcy returns.
Northern Michigan is experiencing a hay shortage due to a combination of drought and high fertilizer prices. The Federal Agricultural Statistics Agency reports that hay is at a 50-year low. Meadow Creek Ranch, a farm in Reed City, has only received 25% of their usual hay yield this summer. The drought has also affected grass growth, forcing them to rely on hay earlier than usual. To address the issue, they plan to change their fertilizer application and increase Sudex cultivation. Additionally, hay prices have risen by an average of $10 per bale, reaching around $85.