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Ag input uncertainties on the rise

Ag input uncertainties are causing stress on many farms.

Central Iowa farmer Aaron Lehman says commodity and fertilizer markets are volatile.

“Farmers are meeting with their lenders right now to finalize their financing and their credit for the coming year, and there’s a huge question mark about what the expense is going to be for fertilizer.”

Lehman serves as president of Iowa Farmers Union and tells Brownfield corn and soybean growers are struggling to finalize planting decisions in the wake of U.S. tariffs on Canada, a top importer of potash.

“The market is dominated by just a couple of players, and 80 percent of it comes from outside of this country. Farmers don’t have choices that they can just shop around and find a better deal for fertilizer.”

Lehman says farmers are at the mercy of a very monopolized crop fertility market.