Most producers aren’t surprised by the jump in fuel and fertilizer costs as they head into the spring planting season. But that doesn’t make it any easier to stomach.

“The hard part is that there’s not really any good alternatives to rising fuel prices,” said Chard Hart, Iowa State University Extension ag economist. “You just have to accept the prices. At the same time, we’ve had really great crop prices to help cover the cost we’re seeing for high fertilizer prices. This is considered a reinvestment in agriculture. As we get high crop prices, we turn around and buy the inputs so we can pay for the next crop and quite often inputs go up.”

One alternative to accepting high fertilizer prices is to figure out if there are other ways to get the nutrients needed, such as manure available from someone nearby.

“Look at soil testing to make sure you only apply what you need instead of putting down a blanket number then figure it out,” Hart said. “Maybe sell a little crop ahead so you can pay the bill when you put the order in for fertilizer prices. Prices are really strong right now, so make a forward sale or two and get some money coming in to pay that bill.”

Because Russia and Ukraine are at war, the sanctions being placed on Russia will restrict fertilizer supplies, hurting the U.S. indirectly.

“While we didn’t buy from them, someone else did –mainly Europe and South America — so if they can’t buy from them, they have to look around for other sources for fertilizer, which happens to be the same markets we’re buying from,” Hart said.

Many producers locked in their fuel prices for the farm, but those who didn’t for their trucks are chasing after high prices.

“So it goes back to the fact that ag costs are up, but luckily the prices are well, so hopefully we’ll still be floating with our heads above water,” Hart said.

Virgil Schmitt, ISU Extension field agronomist based out of Muscatine County, said he’s heard concerns from the growers in his area about higher prices.

“But if you look at prices being offered for the 2022 crop, there are still profits to be made,” he said. “It will be more of an issue of cash flow than profitability.”

ISU Extension field agronomist Angie Rieck-Hinze, who is based out of Wright County, also said growers in her area are concerned about the rise in input costs.

“However, many farmers applied fertilizer last fall to help mitigate rising fertilizer costs. Perhaps a bigger immediate concern is getting certain herbicides,” Rieck-Hinze said.

R. Aaron Saeugling, field agronomist with ISU Extension, believes the fuel prices will affect farmers’ bottom line as will fertilizer. “Current commodity prices will help offset this to some degree,” he said. “The bigger challenge is uncertainty in the global marketplace and future input prices.”