Even before the uncertainty in Iran, farmers were facing sticker shock with the fertilizer bill. The Middle East is an important hub for nitrogen and other fertilizer products. In testimony before the Senate Agriculture Committee, American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall said action needs to be taken. “We need our government to use the Navy to make sure that those ships can freely come through and work with our partner countries to make sure that they come through there,” said Duvall. “Also, when the strait was shut down, the insurance company, Lord London’s, cut off insurance. They parked the boats. We need to use every opportunity that we have in our country to make sure that we solve that problem.” Duvall emphasized the seriousness of this issue. “My phone has rang off the hook since the strait was shut down; we need to do it and do it now.”
