When the dust settles and final tariff rates are announced for various trade partners, prices could rise for imported products. For farmers, one area to watch is fertilizer.
The U.S. is not particularly reliant on imports of nitrogen and phosphorus. A University of Illinois farmdoc Daily article indicated that 6% to 13% of nitrogen needs and 6% to 20% of phosphorus needs have been imported since 2020.
Potassium is a different story. According to the National Minerals Information Center of the United States Geological Survey, potassium imports accounted for more than 90% of the nation’s needs by volume since 2020. Canada is the global leader in potash production, and over the last five years, the U.S. sourced more than 80% of its potash from Canada.
This article appeared in the August 2025 issue of Journal of Nutrient Management on page 9.
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