Klobuchar Joins Farmers, Ag Leaders to Discuss Rising Fertilizer Costs and Impact on Minnesota Agriculture

MINNESOTA – Senator Amy Klobuchar visited with farmers in Cannon Falls to highlight her bipartisan bills to lower fertilizer costs in the wake of the war in Iran. Klobuchar met with Minnesota agriculture leaders, including Rob Tate, board treasurer of the Minnesota Corn Growers Association; Wes Beck, president of the Minnesota Corn Growers Association; Ryan Mackenthun, vicer president of the Minnesota Soybean Association; and local farmers.

“At a time when farmers are facing a ‘perfect storm of ugly’ with rising fertilizer costs and low commodity prices, which are continuing to erode farmers’ profitability, we should be increasing price transparency for farmers and improving domestic fertilizer production and storage here at home,” said Klobuchar. “My bipartisan bills will help stabilize fertilizer pricing, reduce supply chain disruptions, and ensure farmers can access affordable fertilizer to keep feeding and fueling the world.”

In addition, Klobuchar discussed tariffs and the war. Klobuchar favors ending across-the-board tariffs and allowing Congress to make decisions about the Iran War instead of the President unilaterally continuing the war. 

The Fertilizer Transparency Act (Thune-Klobuchar) would create a mandatory price reporting structure to provide wholesalers, retailers, and farmers of all sizes with comparable levels of market information on fertilizer costs. The Homegrown Fertilizer Act (Klobuchar-Marshall) would create a grant and loan program to expand domestic fertilizer production and improve fertilizer storage capacity. This will strengthen supply chains at home, and ease dependence on global markets.

Over the last year, IEEPA tariffs added nearly $1 billion in costs to critical inputs like fertilizers, seed, machinery, and chemicals. In 2025 alone, fertilizers like potash cost up to 20% more.

Following the start of the war in Iran, fertilizer components like urea spiked 25%. Ammonia, phosphate, sulfur, and potassium have also risen sharply. Countries near the Strait of Hormuz account for nearly half of global urea and 30% of global ammonia exports used in nitrogen fertilizer supply chains.