Overview
- U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins touted a coming “golden age” for farmers even as the Iran conflict and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz since late February drove sharp jumps in fuel and fertilizer costs.
- The American Farm Bureau Federation reports that about 70% of surveyed producers cannot afford all the fertilizer they need, and a separate snapshot shows only 48% of Midwest farmers can pay for it.
- Forecasters at the Agricultural Risk Policy Center say fertilizer prices will likely stay about 13% above pre-war levels through next year and into 2028, pointing to persistent pressure on farm budgets.
- Economists warn the strait’s shipping logjam, with roughly 2,000 vessels waiting to move, could take months to clear, which would slow deliveries of fuel and fertilizer and keep prices elevated.
- The administration says it is acting with urgency, yet its main fertilizer plan is described as one to two years away, as many farmers change planting practices or cut household spending after a 46% jump in family farm bankruptcies in 2025.