Is America on the cusp of a farm crisis?

NBC News ^ | April 2, 2026 | Kayla Steinberg

[MinorityRepublican]

Fourth-generation Iowa farmer Mark Mueller is no stranger to the ups and downs of the agriculture industry. But right now, he thinks America is on the cusp of a farm crisis.

“I am more concerned now than I have been in my 30 years of farming,” Mueller told NBC News.

Even before the Iran war, Mueller said, many farmers felt they were being squeezed. Consolidation in the fertilizer industry and increased competition from abroad have resulted in higher prices for fertilizer and feed — and smaller returns on Mueller’s corn and soybean crops.

Many farmers who couldn’t pay their bills in recent years went under. In 2025, the number of Chapter 12 farm bankruptcies reached 315, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation. That was up 46% from the previous year.

Now, the Iran war is putting even more pressure on farmers.

Before the war, roughly a third of the world’s fertilizer ingredients and a fifth of its oil supplies passed every day through the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway off Iran’s southern coast. But since the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran on Feb. 28, the strait has been effectively closed by Tehran, leaving scores of tankers stranded.

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TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: agriculture; fertilizer; straitofhormuz

[asinclair]

Farmers are at the mercy of their equipment suppliers like John Deere. Unable to repair their equipment. Dealers unwilling to help out during planting and harvesting when something breaks.

There are farmers who will not buy the new gear because of this. They will buy pre-software used gear exclusively because they want to farm, not fight the pencil-pushers.

[PeterPrinciple]

https://www.econ.iastate.edu/stories/mark-mueller

He proudly claims he is not in it for profit but complains when there is none.

If not managing for profit, why would you expect it?

Was he complaining when all the govt money was given during the covid?

I always enjoyed the farmer who had this sign at the end of his driveway: “Poverty Acres”.

Farm Bureau is a highly political organization, it is their essence.

[PeterPrinciple]

But right now, he thinks America is on the cusp of a farm crisis.

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Ag crises did fall out of favor with all the other crises, time to bring it back.

[griswold3]

Urea $860/T today

[Doc91678]

Once again, the ugly head of big business moving from the U.S. to foreign countries rears its ugly head. America must import fertilizer, where it was once a major exporter of the product.
Why we no longer produce lead much less smelt our own copper, import wheat, rye, beef, or vegetables.
We've become dependent upon Mexico, Canada and South America for wheat, vegetables, beef from Argentina and refined metals and minerals from China.

[zeestephen]

Re: "Is America on the cusp of a farm crisis?"

The farm crisis will end the day after the 2026 Mid-Term Election.

[Farmerbob]

“...higher prices for fertilizer and feed* — and smaller returns on Mueller’s corn and soybean crops.”

Something’s not computing.

[lp boonie]

I’ll worry there is a farm crisis when fields are fallow, no money to be made by planting them. I have several family members who farm and “lose money” every year but just keep farming.

[gloryblaze]

Just the usual annual farm crisis dolled up in new adjectives.

[Captain Peter Blood]

Russia is the other country that exports a lot of fertilizer and they are cutting the west off I believe.

So take Persian Gulf Fertilizer and Russia you have a huge problem. Many countries will not be able to grow enough food, yields will down everywhere, even here in the U.S. which will lead to higher food prices and another round of Inflation.

Add also to that the 1001 products made from oil that will impact all manufacturing, i.e. Plastics. Parts of Asian manufacturing are shutting down due to all of this.

[TexasGator]

“Russia is the other country that exports a lot of fertilizer and they are cutting the west off I believe.”

They are reducing exports to save fertilizer for their own use.

[Uncle Miltie]

Time for more ETHANOL “price supports”!

[Deaf Smith]

>> not computing

Fertilizer costs way up.

He only budgeted in the reasonable cost per ton.

He bank loan was the budgeted cost pre 02-28-26.

He adjusted down his application of fertilizer per acre relative to the amount cost budgeted.

[Paladin2]

That is a sick situation.

America was built on personal responsibility and personal initiative.

Self Reliance as much as possible.

[Paladin2]

Pure Gas rulz.....

[Uncle Miltie]

I get 10% better gas mileage without food in my tank.

Ban Ethanol!

[OldHarbor]

Make gasoline great again !

[Terry L Smith]

Yup!

[VeniVidiVici]

How about if we quit requiring Diesel Exhaust Fluid for trucks?