America’s farmers have spent years battling rising production costs, but this growing season brought an even greater challenge. According to industry estimates, roughly 70 percent of U.S. farmers reported they could not afford all the fertilizer needed for their crops, creating serious concerns about harvests and farm profitability.
As tensions in the Middle East disrupted global trade routes, fertilizer markets tightened even further. The situation escalated after shipping through the Strait of Hormuz was affected, sending costs soaring for products American growers depend on every planting season.
Rather than waiting for Congress to act, President Donald Trump responded by declaring a national emergency and using executive authority to address what his administration described as a threat to the nation’s food supply.
