High fertilizer prices and concerns about availability are forcing farmers to make input decisions earlier than usual. Minnesota Farmers Union Vice President Anne Schwagerl said she has already locked in fertilizer for the 2027 crop while the 2026 crop is still in the field. “I wrote the biggest check of my life, and I have a mid-scale farm at best,” said Schwagerl. “We’re knocking on six figures’ door to pay for commodity input costs.” Schwagerl said supply uncertainty adds another dimension to the decision. “Once their stockpile runs out, you’re on the open market, and no farmer right now wants to be at the whims of the open market.” Buying inputs early can also mean tapping 2027 operating credit sooner and carrying that expense longer as interest rates increase.
