US farmers are facing a 40 per cent surge in fertiliser prices as Middle East disruptions coincide with the critical spring planting season. The conflict has disrupted fertiliser production and shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, which handles roughly a third of global seaborne supply, creating what farmers call an "unbearable" cost burden.

With about a quarter of US growers yet to secure supplies for the upcoming season, agriculture secretary Brooke Rollins has called the crunch a "national security issue." The timing could hardly be worse as farmers enter their peak usage period, with fertiliser already accounting for about a third of corn production costs. Some growers report they're cutting back on inputs to conserve cash.

President Trump is meeting with farm groups Friday as the administration weighs responses to the crisis. The American Farm Bureau has urged using the US Navy to secure "reliable maritime transit" through the Strait of Hormuz, warning of potential food supply chain disruptions reminiscent of 2022's 40-year high inflation. The pressure comes as farm bankruptcies rose nearly 50 per cent last year amid trade disruptions and weak crop prices.