Fertilizer Experts Acknowledge Trump Administration Has No Plan to Bring Down Prices Spiked by Iran War

Tuesday, during a Senate Agriculture Committee hearing, Senator Reverend Warnock questioned fertilizer experts on the Trump administration's plans to lower input costs for American farmers

Farmers in Georgia and across the nation continue to struggle with higher costs as inputs like fertilizer, fuel, equipment, and seeds have increased

Since the start of President Trump's war in Iran, the price per gallon of diesel has jumped from $3.90 to $5.64

8 in 10 southern farmers can't afford all their needed fertilizer this year

Senator Reverend Warnock: "This is not a good time to be dealing with this. And I'm not hearing from anyone here that the White House has a plan that will solve this crisis for farmers. Dialog is one thing; a plan is another"

WATCH Senator Warnock at Tuesday's Agriculture Committee

Washington, D.C. - Tuesday, during a Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee hearing, Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) questioned fertilizer experts on the Trump administration's strategy to lower input costs for American farmers. Since the start of President Trump's war in Iran, farmers across the country have been forced to pay higher costs for vital inputs like fertilizer, fuel, equipment, and seeds.

"This uncertainty hits farmers at the worst possible time-planting season," said Senator Reverend Warnock. "This is not a good time to be dealing with this. And I'm not hearing from anyone here that the White House has a plan that will solve this crisis for farmers. Dialog is one thing; a plan is another."

"Between the war in Iran, spiking fuel and fertilizer prices, and illegal trade wars increasing the cost of equipment and limiting market access, it is no wonder that farmers in Georgia I talk to say that they can't take much more," continued the Senator.

Low crop prices and high production costs have contributed to a 145% increase in Chapter 12 farm bankruptcies in Georgia from 2024 to 2025, the second highest increase of any state. Farmers in the Southeast typically purchase fertilizer as needed and weigh market conditions when deciding when to purchase inputs, which leaves them vulnerable to price fluctuations in the market. Due to higher and fluctuating costs, 8 in 10 southern farmers can't afford all their needed fertilizer this year.

As a veteran member of the Senate committee overseeing federal agriculture policies, and as a senator representing a state with a proud and prosperous history of agriculture excellence, Senator Warnock is strong supporter of programs that help Georgia farmers keep more profits in their pockets and keep the industry at the frontlines of Georgia's success. Since President Trump launched his illegal war with Iran in February 2026, Senator Warnock has spoken out against the Trump administration for entangling Americans in another endless war without a clear exit strategy. The President's war has caused prices to soar in nearly every major category.

Watch the Senator's remarks HEREand read the transcript below.

Senator Reverend Warnock (SRW): "Brother, Chair-brother, Chair. I'm sure you know that the top state of farm bankruptcies last year was your home state of Arkansas. The number two state was Georgia. So, we're dealing with this same issue. And I'm sure the Chair and I agree that while we like to see our states leading, we don't want to be leading in this way. In fact, farm bankruptcies increased by 46% last year due largely to the President's trade war. And I wonder how many more farmers may go bankrupt by the end of this year because of President Trump's war in Iran-a war that is raising fertilizer and fuel costs, as we all know, due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Which anyone paying attention could have predicted.

"Mr. Rosenbush- the President's war in Iran has further increased fertilizer prices for farmers in the United States. You're the CEO of the Fertilizer Institute-the trade association representing the companies that provide farmers with fertilizer. Has the White House presented you with a viable plan for bringing down fertilizer prices this year?"

Corey Rosenbush (CR): "Senator, thank you for that question. We have been very engaged with discussions on Capitol Hill and with the Administration on really an all-government approach to solutions to help mitigate the impacts of the closure of the Strait. What we can do to prioritize domestic supply, what we can do to incentivize projects-like Josh's-to bolster more domestic supply. So, these supply shocks will not hurt the farmer-will not hurt the farmer in the future, when we're so reliant on some of these foreign supply sources around the world."

SRW: "Do you expect fertilizer prices to go down this year?"

CR: "Senator, I that's a really interesting question.

"I don't know that I can comment or legally predict what's going to happen with the price of fertilizer, but I will tell you that we're very concerned particularly about phosphate with $1,000 plus sulfur. Right now, due to the restriction of sulfur coming through the Strait, we're now at a point where sulfur costs alone are significantly higher than the cost of phosphate. So, you've seen around the world, right now, phosphate mines around the world starting to curtail production because of some of that price impact."

SRW: "Same question for the rest of the panel. Has anyone seen a viable plan from the White House that gives them confidence that fertilizer prices will decrease in the near term?

"No takers.

"So, fertilizer prices are increasing. Diesel costs have also increased by over $2 a gallon compared to this time last year-and there's no end in sight.

"Mr. Melton, you're the president of the Kentucky Farm Bureau. So, you know farmers in the South. They typically don't pre-purchase their fertilizer and are more subject to price volatility. What are you hearing from your members? Are they able to afford fertilizer this planting season?"

Eddie Melton (EM): "So, in Kentucky, we got an early start this year and most of the crop has already been planted this year in Kentucky. Senator, but I can tell you that, and especially on our farm, we did more intensive soil testing and applying fertilizer where we had to without trying to reduce yields. I think that's across the south. I think a lot of people are doing those things, trying to get more creative to where we can try to pencil out a profit with where current prices are for our commodities."

SRW: "So, people are feeling the affordability pitch, obviously, right?"

EM: "People are cutting back usage on fertilizer on their farms. Yes, sir."

SRW: "So, dealing with the uncertainty as best they can. This uncertainty hits farmers at the worst possible time-planting season. Not a good time to be dealing with this. And I'm not hearing from anyone here that the White House has a plan that will solve this crisis for farmers.

"Dialog is one thing; a plan is another. And at this point, the best-case scenario for farmers is the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, which was open before the war started.

"But even then, the fertilizer market will not bounce back overnight. If we were to open tomorrow, we will still be dealing with these prices.

"And so, between the war in Iran, spiking fuel and fertilizer prices, and illegal trade wars increasing the cost of equipment and limiting market access, it is no wonder that farmers in Georgia I talk to say that they can't take much more. And we're dealing with this farm foreclosure crisis.

"As a member of this committee, I'll continue to fight for farmers doing everything I can to end this illegal war in Iran and unfreeze our fertilizer and fuel markets.

"Thank you very much to the panelists. Thank you, Mr. Chair."

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