New Fertilizer Cost for Farmers, John Deere CEO Pushes for E15
- Dave Price
- 4 hours ago
- 3 min read
Sure, farmers like John Delmotte would like to get more than $4.50 per bushel for his corn. But that figure isn’t really the reason why his operations in Monroe, Michigan, have a math problem.
Delmotte is president of the Michigan Corn Growers Association where farmers expect to harvest more than two million acres this year in the state. Delmotte explained to Bridge Michigan why many farmers can’t make a profit with input costs that keep getting worse after the U.S. war with Iran raised prices on fuel and fertilizer.
“It’s not the $4.50 corn that’s the problem; it’s the cost of the inputs,” Delmotte said.
War with Iran increased fertilizer prices
If farmers were able to buy fertilizer early – Delmotte didn’t—they may have avoided the price hike…for now. Prices for farmers in central Illinois, for example, have already risen $20 per acre, according to research published in farmdocdaily.
RELATED: This Midwest corn grower and industry leader wants to see a stronger push from the White House on behalf of America’s farmers and ranchers.
“While many producers may see smaller impacts in 2026 due to pre-purchased inputs, the full effect of these price increases will be felt in 2027. These developments highlight the importance of actively managing fertilizer costs,” the authors wrote.
The authors warned producers that fertilizer prices will likely not drop soon. To save money, farmers could reduce application levels or switch from corn to soybeans. They could also use anhydrous ammonia instead of nitrogen solutions, which could mean sacrificing their preference for the alternative that could be safer to handle and easier to apply.
The authors laid out what could be ahead:
“Higher fertilizer prices caused by the Iran Conflict will have impacts in 2026, particularly on farms that had not purchased as much of their nitrogen needs prior to March. Those farms will likely have much higher costs than those farms that pre-priced nitrogen. All farms will face the brunt of higher prices in 2027, leading to consideration of adjustments such as lowering application rates, switching to anhydrous ammonia, and moving applications to post-plant. Moreover, another round of inflation in all farm inputs should be anticipated.”
John Deere’s support for E15
Republican leadership stripped out year-round E15 provisions in the Farm Bill that the U.S. House approved. But John Deere President & CEO John C. May is making a public push for Congress to finish the job and pass the legislation.
“America’s farmers are ready to feed and fuel our future. Congress just needs to remove outdated barriers,” May wrote on LinkedIn.
Ag state lawmakers have been calling on Congress to pass year-round E15 sales across the country, rather than temporary waivers.
May’s company, which depends on farmers’ financial success so they can continue to buy products, joined with hundreds of others in urging Congress to make a permanent change.
“At John Deere, we stand with more than 300 agricultural organizations calling for action.
Advancing the Farm Bill and allowing voluntary, year‑round E15 sales would strengthen rural communities, American manufacturing, and our energy future,” May wrote.
He continued, “Passing permanent E15 legislation would also strengthen agriculture’s ability to advance additional priorities for crop-based renewable fuels – including both ethanol and biomass-based diesel – that benefit farmers, consumers, and the broader economy.”
Rollins and Vance promote E15
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins joined Vice President J.D. Vance for an event in Des Moines, Iowa, on Tuesday where both praised year-round E15. President Donald Trump also headlined an event in the Des Moines suburb of Clive in January where he said that he would sign E15 legislation if it made it to his desk.
U.S. Representative Zach Nunn (R-Iowa 3rd District) said that the House is scheduled to vote on E15 legislation in the coming week.
