American farmers struggling to cover extra costs caused by war in Iran
By Jack Dura, Associated Press
The war in Iran has triggered a sharp rise in fertilizer prices and disrupted global supply chains, leaving U.S. farmers facing higher costs and growing uncertainty just as planting season begins. As the Associated Press reports nitrogen-based fertilizers — essential for staple crops like corn — are particularly affected, with key inputs and exports constrained by shipping slowdowns through the Strait of Hormuz.
“It is a really dire situation that our farmers facing,” said Harry Ott, a farmer who is the head of the South Carolina Farm Bureau. Ott told AP there isn’t enough fertilizer stockpiled in warehouses to meet demand in the coming months.
For many farmers already operating on thin margins after years of losses, the timing could not be worse. Some may be forced to pay significantly more, while others risk not securing enough fertilizer at all. And even if geopolitical tensions ease, experts warn the ripple effects on supply and pricing could linger well into future growing seasons.
