GALT — U.S. military action against Iran in early 2024 triggered a sharp rise in fertilizer prices for Iowa farmers, compounding existing economic pressures on agricultural operations across the state. Two days after the attack, northeast Iowa farmer Mark Mueller was notified that his fertilizer cost had increased from $795 per ton to $850.

The conflict disrupted shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, a key transit point for fertilizer imports and the largest expense on Mueller’s corn and soybean farm. On March 6, his supplier raised the price again, to $950 per ton. Two weeks later, it jumped to $1,050 per ton—nearly one-third higher than at the start of the conflict.

Interviews with 13 Iowa farmers conducted in the past week revealed widespread concern over rising input costs and unstable market conditions beyond their control. Most of those interviewed expressed continued faith in former President Donald Trump’s leadership but said their operating margins had tightened to the point of threatening their farms’ survival.

Jason Orr, a northeastern Iowa farmer who serves on the state’s Corn Promotion Board, described the farm economy as “Volatile.” He added, “I know of five farmers across this state that have taken their lives since last fall. I would assume that finances play a part in that. Being on the board, I talk to a lot of farmers from across the state, and the mental health of a lot of farmers is not good. Our own at times isn’t good. It’s scary.”

The mental health crisis in rural communities has drawn attention from specialists. David Brown, a behavioral health state specialist at Iowa State University, said in an interview: “Their whole life is dependent on that farm and keeping it in the family for future generations. Financially, as there’s more risk of losing the farm, we’ll have more risk of suicide deaths.” In 2021, the most recent year for which data is available, farmers were 3½ times more likely to die by suicide than the general population, according to officials.

Farmers also face escalating equipment costs, with new combines or tractors priced as high as $1 million and rising repair expenses. Many cited Trump’s unpredictable trade policies as an additional source of uncertainty that complicates long-term planning.