Crop Prices are High, but Costly Fertilizer will Squeeze Farmers’ Profits

By Michael Marks

Unusually high fertilizer prices will cut into many Texas farmers’ profits this year.

Steven Klose, a professor and Extension Economist at the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service in the Department of Agricultural Economics, spoke to the Texas Standard about the factors behind the high prices, and when producers can expect relief.

Klose says prices have been rising gradually since the end of the 2020 growing season. In the past four or five years, prices have risen from $00-$400 a ton to almost double that.

“the increased cost of production really tightens things, and we’re looking at much thinner profit margins because of it,” Klose said.