The escalating price of fertilizer looms large as farmers begin the 2026 growing season.
Chris Edgington grows corn and soybeans near St. Ansgar in north-central Iowa and says most growers in his area buy the bulk of their nitrogen needs in the fall or early winter.
“So most people are feeling pretty good about where they’re at for this year. But the conversation has already started about what price point it’s going to take for the retailers to fill up for summer and into next fall, and those numbers are up substantially.”
He tells Brownfield there’s rising concern about future costs of N, P and K amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
“And all the rest of the items that fall under the energy sector, whether it’s diesel fuels or chemistries, or even delivery of products. If things don’t change, it will effect everybody for next year’s crop.”
Ag economist David Widmar recently told Brownfield urea prices are the highest they’ve been in four years.
