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News Abstract
By: NewsAbstract Editorial Team
Topic: Business, Industry, Science & Environment
April 2, 2026
Jillian Hishaw's analysis underscores how geopolitical conflicts directly threaten global food security and the economic viability of farmers. Surging input costs force difficult decisions, potentially reducing yields and increasing consumer food prices, highlighting the urgent need for strategic policy interventions to stabilize agricultural supply chains.
CHARLOTTE, NC, April 02, 2026 – Agricultural law and policy expert Jillian Hishaw warns of severe financial strain on farmers, driven by global fertilizer market disruptions. Featured in Organic Authority, Hishaw, founder of F.A.R.M.S., highlights how geopolitical instability, specifically the Iran war, intensifies fragile agricultural supply chains. She emphasizes that these conflicts directly impact U.S. farmers through soaring input costs, limited supplies, and increased financial risk, noting small and mid-sized farmers are especially vulnerable.
The crisis manifests in dramatic price surges. Disruptions to critical shipping routes, like the Strait of Hormuz, have caused fertilizer prices to spike. Some U.S. farmers report increases from $750 to $1,000 per ton in weeks, with urea prices climbing up to 71% in 90 days. Essential fuel costs have also spiked, with diesel jumping over 40% in a month, significantly raising the overall cost of producing and transporting agricultural goods.
Globally, fertilizer prices have risen by up to 40% since the conflict began, exacerbating food price inflation and threatening food security. Hishaw warns these compounded cost increases force farmers into difficult choices—reducing fertilizer use or altering planting plans—potentially diminishing yields and increasing consumer food prices. "The challenges farmers face today are not isolated—they are global, systemic, and urgent," Hishaw stated, advocating for strategic investment and policy intervention to protect agricultural viability.