Soybean and corn organizations warn duties on phosphate fertilizer imports from Morocco and Russia are driving up costs and squeezing farm margins
U.S. farm organizations are renewing their push to lower fertilizer costs, calling on major manufacturers to withdraw support for trade actions that they say continue to strain farm profitability.
This week, the American Soybean Association (ASA), its 26 state soybean affiliates representing 30 states, the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA), and several other agricultural groups sent a joint letter to fertilizer producers Mosaic and Simplot.
The letter urges the companies to withdraw their support for countervailing duties on phosphate fertilizer imports from Morocco and Russia—measures that farm groups argue are contributing to persistently high input costs.
“U.S. farmers are facing significant economic pressure, and high fertilizer prices only add to those challenges,” said Scott Metzger, president of ASA and an Ohio soybean farmer. “The countervailing duties on phosphate fertilizer imports have played a major role in the high cost of inputs for soybean production.”
According to the organizations, affordable and reliable access to fertilizer is essential for farmers to remain competitive in global markets. Imported phosphate fertilizer, they argue, is a critical component of maintaining supply stability for U.S. crop production, particularly as farmers continue to manage narrow margins and volatile commodity prices.
Longstanding Opposition to Duties
The countervailing duties stem from a petition filed in 2021, which led to tariffs on phosphate fertilizer imports from Morocco and Russia. Since that time, ASA has consistently opposed the measures, warning they would inflate fertilizer prices for farmers without providing meaningful relief to the broader agricultural economy.
Farm groups note that even before recent geopolitical disruptions further tightened global fertilizer supplies, phosphate fertilizer prices had already doubled over the past several years. The imposition of duties, they argue, compounded existing supply constraints and contributed to the price spikes that many growers continue to face today.
Those pressures have only intensified as ongoing global disruptions—ranging from trade uncertainty to geopolitical conflict—have further restricted fertilizer availability and increased costs across the supply chain.
Impact on Crop Production
High fertilizer prices remain a major concern for soybean and corn producers alike, as phosphate is a key nutrient required for maintaining crop yields and soil health. Rising input costs can force growers to make difficult decisions about fertilizer application rates, crop rotations, and long-term investments in their operations.
“Farmers need access to reliable, affordable fertilizer supplies to remain competitive,” Metzger said. “Imported inputs play a key role in ensuring we are able to continue producing the crops that support our food and fuel systems.”
Looking Ahead
As the countervailing duties move through the sunset review process at the U.S. Department of Commerce and the International Trade Commission, ASA and its partners say they will continue advocating for policies that prioritize farmer affordability and input access.
Throughout the review process, the organizations plan to work with policymakers and industry stakeholders to oppose any extension of the duties on phosphate fertilizer imports. Their goal, they say, is to ensure farmers have access to competitively priced inputs that allow them to continue producing food, feed, fuel, and fiber for both domestic and international markets.
For many growers heading into another planting season under tight economic conditions, the outcome of the review could have lasting implications for farm profitability and the long-term resilience of U.S. agriculture.