Ag Economist Dives Into Soaring Fertilizer Costs

Row crop producers may be experiencing sticker shock with their input costs this season, particularly when it comes to their fertilizers. A recent analysis by Agricultural Economic Insights found that phosphorus prices were up 57 percent last month year-over-year, while nitrogen-based fertilizers witnessed double-digit jumps in the same time frame. David Widmar says the jump comes after prices set a historic low last spring.

Widmar says several factors have caused the increase.

David Widmar of Agricultural Economic Insights notes that while fertilizer prices are significantly higher than a year ago, most of them still have ways to go before eclipsing their 10-year highs.