Farmers across the United States are entering the planting season under mounting financial pressure, with fertilizer costs emerging as one of the most significant constraints on production, according to an April survey conducted by the American Farm Bureau Federation.
The survey, which collected responses from more than 5,700 farmers, found that about 70% are unable to afford all the fertilizer they need this year. The strain cuts across regions and crops, underscoring how rising input costs are affecting farm operations nationwide.
Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz — which connects the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and, through it, the Arabian Sea and global shipping routes — has been sharply disrupted since late February, when the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran. The United States has also imposed a blockade on Iranian ports.
About a quarter of the global seaborne oil trade and one-third of fertilizer shipments pass through the strait, according to a March 2026 report by the United Nations Trade and Development, making it a critical chokepoint for agricultural inputs.
The impact varies by region. Farmers in the South report the greatest difficulty, with 78% unable to afford all required fertilizer, while Midwestern farmers are somewhat less affected, though nearly half still report affordability challenges.
Differences in purchasing strategies help explain part of the gap. About 67% of Midwestern farmers said they secured fertilizer earlier in the season, compared with just 19% in the South, highlighting differences in “planting decision timelines and exposure to recent price increases,” according to the Farm Bureau.
Since 2020, fertilizer has accounted for 33% to 44% of corn operating costs and 34% to 45% of wheat operating costs, according to USDA Economic Research Service Commodity Costs and Returns data.
Data Harvest (formerly Graphic of the Week) is Investigate Midwest’s way of making complex agricultural data easy to understand. Through engaging graphics, charts, and maps, we break down key trends to help readers quickly grasp the forces shaping farming, food systems, and rural communities. Want us to explore other data trends? Let us know here.
read more
Republish our articles for free, online or in print.
