by Bridge2Blue
In recognition of National Agriculture Month in March, Rep. Ben Cline (R–VA 06) waxed eloquent about his high regard for Virginia’s farmers, saying, “I remain committed to advancing policies that support our agricultural community. Virginia’s farmers sustain communities, preserve our land, and uphold the values that built this country.”
Those words ring hollow.
Cline, in reality, is one of Donald Trump’s strongest allies in Virginia—and Trump’s recent, unprovoked attack on Iran has suddenly jeopardized the livelihoods of Virginia’s 39,000 farmers, including the almost 8,000 in his own 6th District.
Farmers are curently facing a drastic increase in fertilizer prices, one of the most significant cost drivers in crop production. Fertilizer is a globally traded commodity, and as much as half of the world’s supply is shipped through the Strait of Hormuz. As Iran restricts shipping through the narrow passage in retaliation for Trump’s ill-conceived attack, prices are surging.
An industry news service recently reported that “average retail prices for all eight of the major fertilizers were higher than last month during the second week of March 2026. Half of the nutrients had a sizable price increase, designated as 5% or more.”
Most farmers do not have the infrastructure to stockpile fertilizer, so they buy it as needed and are subject to current market prices.
Recent war-related increases will hit farmers hard. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, fertilizer will account for up to 38% of total operating costs for wheat growers, 36% for corn growers, and 23% for soybean producers during the 2026 – 2027 harvest.
Heath Cuttrell, a fourth-generation farmer in Chesapeake, Virginia, told WTKR that he’s concerned about what comes next for his farm: “The price of fertilizer as it goes up, our profit margins go down. It makes it really hard for us to make any kind of profit at all.”
Livestock farmers are hurting too. Joe Saffer, owner of American Heritage Family Farm in Warrenton, doesn’t sell his crops, but uses them to feed his livestock. Saffer told the Fauquier Times he is having to absorb high fertilizer and fuel costs, because he won’t be able to grow enough food for his livestock if he cuts down his fertilizer use. “Between equipment costs, labor costs, it’s just another nail in the coffin,” Saffer said of fertilizer and fuel costs.
The concern is nationwide. Matt Perdue, president of the North Dakota Farmers Union, warned that many farmers are bracing for a difficult year.
“When we’re seeing skyrocketing prices already at high levels, that’s a big concern for farmers across the country,” he said. We’re really, really concerned about the state of the farm economy. I asked our group yesterday to raise their hand if they anticipated breaking even in 2026, and not a single person raised their hand. That’s a message that Congress needs to hear.”
What Rep. Cline needs to hear is this: He cannot claim to celebrate farmers while supporting the president’s policies that have single-handedly thrown their very futures into jeopardy. It’s time for Virginia’s farming families to uproot Cline and select a new congressional representative who truly cares about their way of life and protects their livelihoods–not endangers them.
