Farm Groups Warn White House Tariff War Is Driving Fertilizer Prices to “Disastrous Levels”
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Farm groups are warning the White House that the tariff war is making already high fertilizer prices worse, creating significant challenges for U.S. crop producers. With fertilizer representing over 30% of input costs for many row crop operations, rising prices are threatening the financial stability of corn, soybean, and wheat growers.
“That’s making it harder for farmers to afford to plant their typical amounts of corn, soybeans, and wheat,” according to industry reports.
In a recent update, Politico noted that ag industry representatives have hesitated to publicly criticize President Trump’s tariff policies, but lobbying efforts have been quietly increasing behind the scenes. “Some have spent recent months quietly lobbying lawmakers and administration officials to ease the impact on fertilizer prices, which can make up over 30 percent of the input costs for row crop farmers.”
A letter sent by the National Corn Growers Association to key officials, including U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, emphasized the growing urgency: “Fertilizer prices are approaching disastrous levels.”
The data backs up their concern. “When the president took office in January, the average tariff rate on all the key farmer inputs jumped from 0.9 percent to 12.2 percent in August. Some inputs, like pesticides, have risen by 20 percent or more since January.”
These soaring input costs come at a time when commodity prices are already under pressure, and farmers are navigating volatile markets and unpredictable weather conditions. The added financial burden of high tariffs is forcing many producers to consider reducing planted acreage or changing crop rotations, which could have long-term effects on both rural economies and food supply chains.
While no immediate policy reversals have been announced, farm groups continue to apply pressure to the administration, warning of the consequences if relief doesn’t come soon.
This growing concern highlights the complex ripple effects of international trade disputes, especially on the agricultural sector, where margins are often razor-thin.