An overwhelming majority of America’s farmers say fertilizer prices are too high to cover their needs this year, according to a nationwide survey from the American Farm Bureau Federation.
Conducted in early April, the survey found 70% of respondents say fertilizer is so expensive that they will not be able to purchase all they need.
More than 5,700 farmers — both Farm Bureau members and non-members — from every state and Puerto Rico participated. Farm Bureau economists analyzed the results in the organization’s latest Market Intel report.
The analysis shows clear regional differences. Nearly 8 in 10 farmers in the southern U.S. say they cannot afford all needed supplies. That compares to 69% in the Northeast, 66% in the West and 48% in the Midwest.
Pre-purchasing fertilizer also varied widely. Just 19% of farmers in the South said they prebooked fertilizer ahead of planting season. In the Northeast, 30% prebooked, followed by 31% in the West and 67% in the Midwest.
That concern has been building for weeks.
In a separate survey released by the National Corn Growers Association, growers signaled rising anxiety about fertilizer affordability – particularly beyond the 2026 crop year.
Nebraska farmer Jason Lewis told the Rural Radio Network that the pressure is already showing up on farm balance sheets.
“We’ve seen input prices continue to rise while crop prices go the other direction,” Lewis said. “This isn’t just a gut feeling anymore — these are hard numbers that show what’s happening.”
Conflict in the Middle East has pushed fertilizer and fuel prices higher. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has limited the flow of key fertilizer supplies and crude oil to global markets, tightening supply worldwide.
“Spring planting decisions depend heavily on access to fertilizer and diesel fuel, both of which have been impacted by geopolitical risks that have disrupted global markets,” the Market Intel report states. “Since the escalation of tensions in the Middle East, nitrogen fertilizer prices have risen more than 30%, while combined fuel and fertilizer costs have increased roughly 20% to 40%. Urea prices have increased by 47% since the end of February, marking the largest month-to-month percentage increase in the price of urea.”
As a result, many farmers say they plan to skip fertilizer applications this spring, hoping prices ease later in the growing season.
Many of the farmers surveyed said they will forego applying fertilizer this spring in hopes that prices will return to an affordable level later in the growing season.
