The ongoing war in Iran has sent ripple effects through global supply chains, and American farmers are among those feeling the impact. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has interrupted shipments of both fertilizer and natural gas — a key raw material used in fertilizer manufacturing.
Agricultural operations across the country were already navigating a difficult environment before the disruption, contending with extreme weather events, ongoing tariffs, and elevated costs for fuel and labor. The added strain of reduced fertilizer availability has compounded those challenges.
One farm highlighted in reporting on the issue is Bluff View Farms in West Jefferson, North Carolina, where workers were recently photographed spreading fertilizer following a potato planting in late April.
Despite the supply chain disruption and higher fertilizer prices, analysts do not expect the situation to trigger significant increases in food costs for everyday shoppers at U.S. grocery stores.
