By Connor McDowell, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Brandon Sun
March 9, 2026
Fertilizer Canada is encouraging farmers to check on local fertilizer supplies as conflict in the Middle East threatens the supply of the important farming material.
The instability in the region has the potential to disrupt trade through the Strait of Hormuz, which plays a central role in the movement of fertilizer, Michael Bourque, president and CEO of Fertilizer Canada, said in an email to the Sun. Any impact to global fertilizer production can be felt around the world, he said.
“Farmers are encouraged to consult their local agricultural retailers for the most up-to-date information on fertilizer supply in their area,” Bourque said. “The Arabian Gulf is known for oil production but is also a key producer of nitrogen, phosphate and sulphur and an important transportation route for commodities.”
Activity in the strait slowed to a halt over the past week following the breakout of conflict between Israel, the U.S. and Iran, a time lapse from the British Broadcasting Corporation showed on Thursday. Iranian Gen. Sardar Jabbari had threatened that Tehran will “not let a single drop of oil leave the region,” the BBC reported; and Trump has said that the U.S. Navy may escort tankers through the Straight of Hormuz.
It is hard to predict how Manitoban farmers will be impacted, however a major factor this spring will be the question of how much fertilizer is already on hand, Keystone Agricultural Producers president Jill Verwey told the Sun on Thursday.
“How much fertilizer is in storage right now on farms? How much have producers pre-bought?” Verwey said in a phone call.
“A lot of it relies on what planning producers had leading into this spring.”
That’s an unknown at this time, but the conflict in the Middle East has definitely caught the attention of farmers, she said.
“Certainly huge concerns going into spring. And I think more so if this drags out for a long period of time.”
Souris farmer Curtis Gerow said he does not expect to be impacted this year. He explained to the Sun that he stocked up on fertilizer in the winter, and won’t need to purchase any more.
“I’m usually buying fertilizer around January,” Gerow said. “A lot (of farmers) do buy in the fall and in the winter.”
The price of the material is usually cheapest then, he said.
While uncertainty in the fertilizer market won’t impact him this year, Gerow expects to be hit in other ways by the conflict in the Middle East.
“It’s gonna hurt us, input wise, I’m sure,” Gerow said.
“The price of fuel, I think it’s gonna get very high this summer, so we’re putting in more fuel storage here, for next week, and getting them filled up. I ordered more fuel tanks this morning.”
Forbes reported on Friday that gas prices spiked 11 per cent in the past week after conflicts broke out in Iran. Forbes also wrote that diesel prices reached a high that had not been seen since December 2023.
Bourque said on Thursday that the Canadian fertilizer association is paying close attention and watching how fertilizer trade may change.
“Fertilizer Canada is closely monitoring the evolving situation in the Middle East and any potential implications for global fertilizer markets,” Bourque said. “This remains a fluid situation, and we are staying closely engaged with our members as conditions evolve.”
When contacted on Thursday, the spokesperson for Brandon’s local fertilizer plant, Koch Fertilizer, declined to comment about potential impacts in the fertilizer market.
The uncertainty surrounding the fertilizer industry comes at a bad time, Verwey said on Thursday. She said farmers have been pinched in several ways in recent years, with prices rising on their inputs, but sales prices not changing to help them cover the costs.
“It’s kind of one more thing that’s added on top,” Verwey said. “We’ve seen huge costs, direct costs … whether that’s tariff-related, whether that’s just, you know what’s happened business-wise.”
Verwey said it is becoming more apparent that farmers should develop a good relationship with their bankers in order to plan out expenditure and sales.
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“You really have to depend on sharpening your pencil, and looking at the efficiencies at the farm level.”
