Fertilizer costs could be 40% of corn growers’ budgets this year

Input costs are still a big issue for farmers, an issue that has been around for several years now. This year, fertilizer costs are expected to be around 40 percent of the budget for corn growers.

Researchers at the University of Illinois say that number is closer to 28 percent for soybean growers. Over the last quarter century, they found that the global fertilizer market has expanded, with countries like China, Russia, Canada, and the United States becoming major fertilizer suppliers.

Most of these, U.S. included, rely on imports to meet our own fertilizer needs. Market analysts say it is important for farmers to understand the structure of the fertilizer market, as well as the risks.

Related Stories
Current estimates are already hovering around 80 weeks.
StoneX analyst Josh Linville says global supply risks and continued dependence on imported urea are keeping fertilizer markets on edge.
For farmers, better data may not solve every local rail problem, but it can make service failures easier to document.
At the center of the announcement is the Blue Point Project in Louisiana, a $3.7 billion ammonia facility, USDA says, that will become the world’s largest ammonia plant once completed.
Cotton growers can use the survey to compare nutrient, herbicide, and pest-management practices against national production benchmarks.
Fred Nichols with Huma joins us to discuss the 4 R’s of nutrient stewardship and how farmers are adapting best practices in today’s evolving ag economy.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

“A government shutdown impacts all Americans and has serious consequences, including for farmers. It just adds additional uncertainty, disrupts critical services.”
On Champions of Rural America, Rep. Dusty Johnson underscores the Western Caucus’ ongoing commitment to advocating for farmers and rural communities.
Catch the special, “Praise and Worship: More Than a Hollow Hallelujah,” on The Gaither Gospel Hour, Friday at 8 PM ET only on RFD-TV!
Consumer demand for regional food systems is strong, but the challenge lies in scaling production and infrastructure to meet that growing need.
National FFA Organization Chief Program Officer Christine White previews the programs and activities planned for this year’s FFA Convention.
Dave Kestel, a farmer from Will County and member of the Illinois Farm Bureau, joins us to share a boots-on-the-ground update on the 2025 corn harvest.