Farmers and their Republican allies are worried that the White House isn’t doing enough to offer them economic relief as fertilizer prices spike because of the war in Iran.
President Donald Trump is making some moves aimed at bringing down fertilizer costs, like lifting sanctions on Venezuelan imports and waiving some shipping restrictions. But farm-state lawmakers and agriculture industry groups say those moves likely won’t be enough to avert food price spikes ahead of the midterms.
Despite urgent pleas from industry allies, the White House hasn’t outlined a clear path to bringing down fertilizer prices beyond reopening the Strait of Hormuz, where an Iranian blockade has choked off a vital passageway for fertilizer and fuel imports, according to three people familiar with the conversations. That’s bad news for congressional Republicans, who were already struggling to balance support for the president with midterm messaging when recent election results suggest affordability concerns may be front of mind for voters.
“There’s no easy answer for this,” said Sen. Jim Justice (R-W.Va.). “I think our president’s doing the right thing [in Iran], 100 percent. But, you know the old saying, with every action there’s an equal and opposite reaction. That’s what’s happening. … Our farmers are going to really be upside down now.”
