Iran War Hikes Fertilizer Prices, Squeezing Farmers in Planting Season

‘The conflict is coming at nearly the worst possible time, the spring planting season,’ economist Peter Earle said.

A farmer spreads nitrogen fertilizer in his wheat field in Blécourt, France, on May 27, 2021. Pascal Rossignol/Reuters

Much of the economic focus during the war in Iran has been on oil and gas supplies, but the interruption of an essential byproduct, fertilizer, may soon affect farmers as planting season begins.

Fertilizer that farmers use in crop production is derived from natural gas or is processed using natural gas.