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Fertilizer price spikes bring concerns and audibles for Illinois farmers

A pair of Illinois farmers say rising fertilizer costs are impacting their operations.

Ken Franklin, who farms in Christian County, says he had most of his fertilizer purchased before the conflict in the Middle East sent prices surging, however…

“It’s on a small scale, but we had some environmentally sensitive areas that have a little bit of roll that we didn’t want to strip last year, just worried about soil erosion, and those may just be thrown back to beans.”  He says, “Kind of limit our losses, if you will, on those acres.”

AUDIO: Ken Franklin – Illinois farmer

David Isermann, who grows corn, soybeans, and cattle in LaSalle County, says his operation has utilized strip-till for years to become more flexible with fertilizer applications.

“We end up splitting our nitrogen, so a little bit in the fall with the dry, and now right here before the planter, and then we’ll side dress.”  He says, “We’re going to end up with about 50% of our nitrogen on before we plant. So, if things aren’t looking good, we can adjust.”

Even so, he tells Brownfield that he’s worried about next year’s fertilizer needs.

“If they get the issue over in the Middle East taken care of, they get the Strait of Hormuz opened up, that fertilizer that’s backed up isn’t probably going to get here in time to do us much good.”  He says, “So, it’s going to screw up everything for 2027 also.”

Both say the sharp increases to key inputs are especially concerning given the already tight margins facing most farmers in the current ag economy.

AUDIO: David Isermann – Illinois farmer