US Farmers Struggle as Fertilizer Costs Surge Amid Middle East Conflict
Updated
Updated · The Verge · Apr 13
US Farmers Struggle as Fertilizer Costs Surge Amid Middle East Conflict
58 articles · Updated · The Verge · Apr 13
A nationwide survey by the American Farm Bureau Federation found that nearly 70% of U.S. farmers cannot afford all the fertilizer they need this season.
Fertilizer prices have surged 30-50% due to Middle East conflict and supply disruptions, with Southern farmers and key crops like rice and cotton hardest hit.
Many farmers are reducing fertilizer use or switching crops, raising concerns about lower yields and potential impacts on food supply and farm finances.
How will record farm debt and soaring input costs reshape the future of American family farms?
With crop yields threatened, how will this crisis transform the price and availability of food at home?
As fertilizer shortages threaten a global food crisis, which nations are now on the brink of famine?
Is the Mideast conflict the sole cause of high prices, or is it cover for fertilizer industry price gouging?
Could this fertilizer crisis accidentally spark a revolution in sustainable, low-input farming practices?
The Hormuz crisis reveals a fragile supply chain. How can the world de-risk its food and energy systems?
How the 2026 Strait of Hormuz Blockade Sparked a Global Fertilizer Shortage and Food Inflation Surge
Overview
In March 2026, the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz stranded vital fertilizer shipments and disrupted LNG exports, causing soaring input costs and widespread production shutdowns. These disruptions led to high fertilizer prices that threatened farmers' economic viability, forcing reduced planting in regions like Australia and causing projected crop losses of 15-25% in West Africa. The crisis is pushing 45 million more people toward acute hunger by mid-2026, especially smallholder farmers in Africa and South Asia. Geopolitical tensions intensified as Russia suspended fertilizer exports and China and Russia positioned themselves as alternative suppliers, while the US activated emergency reserves and the UN pushed for reopening the Strait to prevent further global food insecurity.