A bipartisan group of U.S. senators is pushing new legislation aimed at easing rising fertilizer costs and stabilizing supply for America’s farmers, as global tensions and market pressures squeeze producers heading into the spring planting season.
The Fertilizer Transparency Act of 2026 was introduced by Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) alongside Sen. John Thune (R-SD), and with support from Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA). The measure would require the U.S. Department of Agriculture to collect and publish weekly data on fertilizer prices, replacing the agency’s current annual voluntary survey.
Lawmakers say the bill is intended to give farmers more timely and reliable information as they navigate volatile input markets. Fertilizer prices have surged in recent weeks, with key components such as urea rising roughly 25 percent since late February, alongside increases in ammonia, phosphate, sulfur and potassium.
The price spikes come as farmers contend with broader economic pressures, including low commodity prices and heightened uncertainty tied to global supply chains. Roughly one-third of the world’s fertilizer supply moves through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping lane that has been disrupted amid escalating conflict involving President Trump’s military actions against Iran, contributing to tighter supplies and higher costs.
At the same time, a separate bipartisan push led by Klobuchar, Thune and Sen. Roger Marshall (R-KS) seeks to address structural challenges in the fertilizer market. Their legislative package includes the Fertilizer Transparency Act as well as the Homegrown Fertilizer Act, which would establish grant and loan programs to expand domestic production capacity and improve storage infrastructure.
Supporters say the dual-track approach — improving price visibility while boosting U.S. production — is critical as farmers face mounting financial strain. Higher fertilizer and fuel costs are cutting into already thin margins, raising concerns about crop yields and, ultimately, food prices for consumers.
“Higher prices for fertilizer — and the uncertainty surrounding costs — have only strained budgets even further,” Thune said, adding that better data would help producers make more informed purchasing decisions.
Klobuchar emphasized the need to shore up domestic supply chains, arguing that increasing production and storage capacity could reduce reliance on imports and cushion against future disruptions.
The proposals arrive as lawmakers from both parties warn that sustained input cost increases could ripple across the agricultural economy, affecting not only farm profitability but also grocery prices nationwide.
