US Corn Farmers Reel Under Fertilizer Price Surge

Corn farmers in the US are facing a perfect storm of rising fertilizer costs and stagnant grain prices as they head into spring planting. According to a National Corn Growers Association survey, nearly 90% of farmers report higher local retail prices for nitrogen fertilizer since the Middle East conflict began. This is particularly concerning given that farmers now need 185 bushels of corn to purchase 1 ton of urea, a record high.

Availability concerns are also mounting, with 40% of surveyed farmers not fully securing their nitrogen needs for the 2026 crop. A quarter of those growers express genuine concerns about product availability, not just cost. The outlook for 2027 is even more worrisome, with nearly two farmers out of five expressing concern about next year's costs.

NCGA President Jed Bower stated that fertilizer prices were already high before the war in Iran began and have only been made worse by the Strait of Hormuz closure. He also noted that domestic trade policy is compounding the problem, citing countervailing duties on phosphate imports from Morocco as a key factor.