06/04/2026
From Cow Manure to Compost: Farmers Do What Farmers Have Always Done
If you've spent any time around agriculture, you've probably noticed something.
When the world throws a problem at farmers, farmers usually don't spend much time (well some time) complaining about it. They start figuring out how to work around it.
That's exactly what's happening as fertilizer prices continue climbing due to disruptions tied to the war involving Iran and shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most important trade routes for fertilizer ingredients. According to PBS NewsHour and the Associated Press, fertilizer prices have increased sharply since the conflict began, sending producers around the world searching for alternatives.
Fertilizer is one of the largest input costs on many farms. When prices jump 40% or more, that doesn't just affect a balance sheet. It affects planting decisions, crop choices, cash flow, and in some cases whether a farm turns a profit at all. PBS reported that some American farmers are paying dramatically higher fertilizer bills, while farm leaders warn some producers may struggle to obtain enough fertilizer regardless of price.
So what are farmers doing?
The same thing they've done for generations.
They're adapting.
The Associated Press reported that producers in several countries are increasingly turning to alternatives such as livestock manure, compost, poultry litter, and biofertilizers as they look for ways to reduce dependence on expensive synthetic fertilizers. In some regions, demand for these alternatives has surged as growers search for lower-cost options.
None of this is new.
Long before modern fertilizer plants existed, farmers built soil fertility using livestock manure, crop rotations, compost, and cover crops. Today's producers have access to more technology and better data, but many of the principles remain the same.
That doesn't mean manure is a magic solution.
Large-scale grain operations still depend heavily on commercial fertilizer, and many farms simply don't have access to enough organic nutrients to replace synthetic products entirely. But the renewed interest in alternative fertility programs highlights something many farmers already know: flexibility matters.
What This Means for Farmers
• Higher fertilizer costs continue squeezing already-thin margins.
• Some producers may reduce fertilizer applications or adjust crop plans.
• Interest in manure, poultry litter, compost, and biological products is growing.
• Farmers are once again being asked to adapt to global events largely outside their control.
What This Means for Americans
• Higher input costs can eventually affect food production costs.
• Reduced fertilizer use can lower yields in some situations.
• Food prices are influenced by far more than what happens at the grocery store.
• The resilience of American agriculture often depends on farmers finding solutions before anyone else does.
The funny thing is that every few years agriculture discovers an "innovative new solution" that looks a lot like something Grandpa was already doing, just with a fancy new name.
Sometimes the future looks surprisingly similar to the past.
