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MOFB: fertilizer price spike adds stress for farmers ahead of planting

The president of Missouri Farm Bureau says the recent spike in fertilizer prices is adding new stress for farmers heading into planting season.

Garrett Hawkins tells Brownfield “the reality is 75 percent of the fertilizer we’re going to use this spring is already stateside and in warehouses. Yes, there’s another quarter that has to come in yet.”

But he says the mismatch between the supply reality and market behavior leaves farmers asking why prices are increasing even more, and many farmers can’t get fertilizer quotes, which causes more uncertainty.

Hawkins says the American Farm Bureau Federation has presented policy solutions to the Trump administration like easing shipping constraints and removing any remaining fertilizer tariffs, which could help the situation.

“We met with a representative of the National Security Council last week, who’s focused on the ag supply chain. Right out of the gate, she said in remarks to our people they are on top of fertilizer and all things are on the table, basically, to make sure supplies are here, understanding affordability is a real issue.”

Hawkins and other Missouri Farm Bureau members were in Washington D.C. last week meeting with lawmakers and the Trump administration.