American farmers are struggling to secure adequate fertilizer supplies as geopolitical tensions drive input costs sharply higher during the critical spring planting window, according to a new American Farm Bureau Federation survey of more than 5,700 producers nationwide.
The survey, conducted April 3-11, reveals that approximately 70% of farmers report being unable to afford all the fertilizer they need this season. The affordability crisis hits hardest in the South and Northeast, where 78% and 69% of producers respectively cannot secure sufficient inputs, compared to 48% in the Midwest.
Regional differences in fertilizer pre-booking rates have left many producers exposed to recent price volatility. Only 19% of Southern farmers secured fertilizer ahead of the season, compared to 67% in the Midwest, 31% in the West and 30% in the Northeast. These disparities reflect different crop rotations and purchasing patterns, with Midwestern corn and soybean producers typically buying inputs earlier than farmers growing cotton, rice and peanuts in the South.
Price increases strain farm finances
Since tensions escalated in the Middle East and the Strait of Hormuz closure, nitrogen fertilizer prices have risen more than 30%, while combined fuel and fertilizer costs have increased 20% to 40%. Urea prices jumped 47% since late February, marking the largest month-to-month percentage increase on record.
Farm diesel prices have surged 46% since February’s end, affecting machinery operation, fertilizer transport and irrigation costs across nearly every production stage. The overlapping increases help explain why 94% of survey respondents reported their financial situation has worsened or remained unchanged since last year.
Smaller farms face particular challenges, with substantially lower pre-booking rates across all regions. In the Midwest, only 49% of farms with 1-499 acres pre-booked fertilizer, compared to 77% of operations with 500-2,499 acres.
The survey results suggest many farmers are already adjusting fertilizer applications and planting decisions in response to rising costs, potentially affecting yields and production in the 2026 crop year.
