Standing with farmers: Why US fertilizer independence matters

This week, as we celebrate National Farmers Day and Global Fertilizer Day, we should remember a simple truth: Without farmers, there is no fertilizer industry, and without both farmers and the fertilizer industry, there is no reliable source of food. One-half of global food production can be attributed to the use of fertilizer.

Two American industries working together for a common good — even when times are tough.

It’s not an understatement to say that U.S. farmers are facing some of the most difficult economic times in recent history. The latest Department of Agriculture data tell a story farmers already know: Crop producers operated at negative profit margins throughout 2025 and continue to face similar headwinds in 2026. Interest rates, land rents and input costs remain elevated while commodity receipts have declined for three consecutive years.

The conflict in the Middle East has exposed critical vulnerabilities in the global supply chain and created additional volatility in the global fertilizer market. Damage to fertilizer production facilities and transportation challenges have limited exports from countries that rely on the Strait of Hormuz. 

Nearly 50 percent of global exports of sulfur, an important fertilizer, as well as a critical input to phosphate fertilizer production, move through this area. Likewise, between 30 and 50 percent of globally traded........

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