Farmers Squeezed by Tariffs, Iran War, and Rising Costs

Soaring input prices and low crop prices push Midwest soybean growers to the brink

Apr. 13, 2026 at 6:25pm

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A geometric abstract illustration using bold shapes and primary colors to conceptually represent the economic challenges facing Midwest soybean farmers, including high input costs, low crop prices, and global oversupply.Soybean farmers struggle to stay afloat as soaring costs and low prices squeeze their profits.Wahoo Today

Midwest soybean farmers are facing a perfect storm of financial pressures, including the lingering impacts of the U.S.-China trade war, skyrocketing costs for fuel, fertilizer, and equipment due to the Iran war, and persistently low crop prices driven by global oversupply. Many are struggling to stay afloat as they head into the spring planting season.

Why it matters

The challenges facing soybean farmers have broader implications for food security, the rural economy, and the long-term viability of family farms in the Midwest. As costs rise and profits dwindle, some farmers may be forced out of business, leading to further consolidation in the industry.

The details

Soybean farmers like Doug Bartek in Nebraska are grappling with a long list of financial pressures, including the high cost of fuel, equipment, and fertilizer - exacerbated by the Iran war - as well as the lingering effects of the U.S.-China trade war that devastated their export markets. Meanwhile, global oversupply has kept soybean prices low for years, squeezing profit margins. Bartek and other farmers are also facing rising land rents from "absentee landowners" who don't understand the realities of modern farming.

  • The U.S. and China reached a trade deal in late 2025, with China committing to buy 12 million metric tons of soybeans by January 2026 and at least 25 million metric tons annually for the next three years.
  • On February 28, 2026, the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran, severely disrupting shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and driving up the price of oil, as well as key fertilizer ingredients.
  • On April 7, 2026, the U.S. and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire that included reopening the Strait of Hormuz, but uncertainty remains about the future of the agreement.

The players

Doug Bartek

A fifth-generation farmer in Nebraska and chairman of the Nebraska Soybean Association.

Justin Sherlock

A soybean farmer and president of the North Dakota Soybean Growers Association.

Chad Hart

An agricultural economist at Iowa State University.

Joana Colussi

A research assistant professor in the department of agricultural economics at Purdue University.

Paul Mitchell

A professor of agricultural and applied economics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

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What they’re saying

“Our biggest struggles are our inputs, be it fertilizer, seed, chemical, parts. There has been so much drastic markup in all of these. And I just kind of feel like the farmer's kind of painted in the corner.”

— Doug Bartek, Farmer and chairman of the Nebraska Soybean Association

“A lot of producers are pretty nervous going into this year. It looks like we're going to have another year of negative returns.”

— Justin Sherlock, Soybean farmer and president of the North Dakota Soybean Growers Association

“If we look at global soybean production over the past several years, it continues to set record, after record, after record. There's been just large supplies globally, and that has led to depressed prices.”

— Chad Hart, Agricultural economist, Iowa State University

What’s next

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The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.