U.S. growers are heading into the spring planting with more uncertainty around fertilizer prices due to the Iran war. However, fertilizer prices are not impacting farmers equally, as geography and crop are playing a role in the impact, according to a survey by the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF).
From April 3 to 11, the Farm Bureau surveyed more than 5,700 of its members about their response to rising fertilizer prices. The survey found that most farmers, regardless of crop, could not afford all their fertilizer needs.
Rice, cotton, peanut, and sorghum growers were the most impacted, with 88%, 86%, 84%, and 90%, respectively, stating that they could not afford all required fertilizers. Wheat, soybean, and corn growers did not fare much better, with 70%, 68%, and 66%, respectively, saying the same.
The impact of rising fertilizer prices is less in the Midwest because farmers rotate corn and soybeans and many already purchased fertilizer, the Farm Bureau shared. Elsewhere, farmers are more exposed to price volatility since they purchase fertilizers closer to application, the Farm Bureau added.
Less than half (48%) of Midwest farmers could not afford all their fertilizer needs, compared to 78%, 69%, and 66% of Southern, Northeast, and Western growers, respectively, who said the same. Most Midwest farmers (67%) prebooked fertilizer purchases, compared to 31%, 30%, and 19% of Western, Northeast, and Southern growers, respectively, who did the same.
Fertilizer is not the only crop input of concern, as farm diesel costs jumped 46% since the end of February in the “largest month-to-month percentage increase in diesel prices over the period,” Farm Bureau shared in its Market Intel report.
Higher fertilizer and fuel prices are having a compounding effect on farming operating margins. Most farmers (58%) are in worse financial condition now than in 2025, compared to 36% who stated they were about the same.
“The skyrocketing cost of fuel and fertilizer is creating more economic hardships for farmers who have already endured years of losses. Without the necessary fertilizers, we’ll face lower yields, and some farmers will reduce acres altogether, which will impact food and feed supplies. It’s too early to know how this will affect food availability and prices in the long run, but it’s a warning light that we’ve shared with leaders in Washington. We look forward to working with them to find solutions so farmers can continue to feed families across America,” Zippy Duvall, AFBF president, shared in a statement.
