Escalating Fertilizer Prices Strain American Farmers Amid Global Turmoil

Wed Mar 18 2026 13:00:19 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Farmer Todd Littleton's fertilizer costs are projected to soar due to the ongoing conflict in Iran, highlighting a troubling trend for agriculture across the U.S.

Farmers like Todd Littleton are facing significant cost increases in fertilizer necessary for crop growth, with prices driven higher by geopolitical tensions and supply chain disruptions. Experts warn that these rising costs could create a supply shortage in the agricultural market, complicating spring planting for many farmers who may not be able to secure the materials they need.

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Tennessee farmer Todd Littleton expects to pay $100,000 more for fertilizer this season, a 40% spike from his bill last year thanks to the war in Iran — and he is scrambling to cover that extra cost.

“The problem is, we’re so strained financially coming into this issue,” said Littleton, a third-generation farmer from Gibson County in the state’s northwest corner. “We have had a couple of record losses the last couple of years, so everyone’s kinda grabbing at straws anyway, and then to have input prices increase yet again, it just really couldn’t happen at a worse time.”

Littleton, who grows corn, soybeans, and wheat, is among thousands of farmers across the country who will pay far more this spring than expected for fertilizer that is essential to their crops. Nitrogen-based fertilizer is especially vital for corn, usually the largest crop in the U.S. and one that feeds the nation’s livestock and is converted into fuel that helps power most U.S. cars and trucks.

Farmers have complained about costly fertilizer for years, but prices have soared even higher since the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran on Feb. 28, leading to a slowdown in shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint for 20% of the world’s oil and natural gas. This has further increased fuel prices, impacting fertilizer production, and has stopped the export of nitrogen fertilizers from the Persian Gulf.

About 15% of fertilizer imports to the U.S. come from the Middle East, and roughly half the global supply of urea, a key fertilizer ingredient, originates from this region. With existing supply issues exacerbated, experts caution against expecting quick resolution even if hostilities cease.

Even before the latest price increase, high prices were attributed to geopolitical tensions, including the conflict between Ukraine and Russia, which hindered access to raw materials and inflated natural gas prices. The ripple effects of the Iranian conflict threaten to further worsen this agricultural predicament.

“We’re being told that many of our farmers that haven’t preordered their fertilizer may not even obtain what they need for the season,” said Zippy Duvall, president of the American Farm Bureau Federation. “That’s why this situation is so serious.”

As the spring planting season approaches, the urgency to secure essential resources has never been more critical for farmers. With the threat of shortages looming, many face an uphill battle, trying to navigate these steep challenges while ensuring they can sustain their livelihoods and produce for the nation.