U.S. Farmers to Cut 2026 Corn Acres by Millions as Hormuz Closure Disrupts One-Third of Fertilizer Trade
Updated
Updated · The Conversation · Jun 24
U.S. Farmers to Cut 2026 Corn Acres by Millions as Hormuz Closure Disrupts One-Third of Fertilizer Trade
3 articles · Updated · The Conversation · Jun 24
Summary
Several million fewer U.S. corn acres are expected in 2026 as farmers retreat from one of the country’s most fertilizer-intensive crops.
The Strait of Hormuz closure is disrupting about one-third of global traded fertilizer flows, while also constraining the energy and raw materials needed to make and move fertilizer.
Rising costs are pushing farmers worldwide to use less fertilizer or switch to less nutrient-hungry crops, extending the shock beyond U.S. corn.
Research suggests many intensive U.S. farms can tap built-up soil nitrogen and phosphorus reserves, allowing some fertilizer cuts with limited yield loss while reducing runoff.
That buffer is uneven and temporary—some regions still need more fertilizer, but the shortage could accelerate manure-based alternatives and test how resilient nutrient-saturated soils really are.
With fertilizer supplies blocked, is this a disaster or a forced, beneficial reset for global agriculture?
As millions face hunger, which innovations will permanently break our reliance on volatile fertilizer supply chains?
U.S. Agriculture Under Pressure: Fertilizer Affordability Crisis and Food Security Risks After the 2026 Strait of Hormuz Closure
Overview
In early 2026, the escalation of the U.S.-Iran conflict led to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, causing a major disruption in global supply chains. This immediately tightened the supply of essential agricultural inputs, especially fertilizers, and triggered a sharp affordability crisis for farmers worldwide, including in the United States. As a result, fertilizer prices surged, with diammonium phosphate and sulfur costs rising rapidly, further worsened by China restricting its fertilizer exports. These shocks forced farmers to change their planting strategies and adapt quickly, setting off a chain reaction that affected food production, prices, and long-term food security.