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Iran War Drives Fertilizer Costs Up, Food Prices Rise

4/23/2026

44 3 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

The ongoing war in Iran is disrupting global supply chains, increasing fertilizer and fuel costs.
Farmers face input costs and must decide whether to absorb nitrogen costs, cut fertilizer use, or shift to less fertilizer-intensive crops.
Corn, the dominant U.S. feed grain, is at the center of the issue.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) forecasts a 3.6% increase in overall food prices for 2026 due to rising fertilizer costs.

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Story summary

The ongoing war in Iran is disrupting global supply chains, increasing fertilizer and fuel costs.
Farmers face input costs and must decide whether to absorb nitrogen costs, cut fertilizer use, or shift to less fertilizer-intensive crops.
Corn, the dominant U.S. feed grain, is at the center of the issue.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) forecasts a 3.6% increase in overall food prices for 2026 due to rising fertilizer costs.