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How a fertilizer shortage caused by the Iran war could affect US food prices
By Joe Hernandez | NPR at LAist (KPCC / Southern California Public Radio)
· July 4, 2026
· 6 min read
A worker spreads fertilizer after planting potatoes at Bluff View Farms on April 24 in West Jefferson, North Carolina. High fertilizer prices due to the war in Iran have hit farms already dealing with severe weather, tariffs and the high costs of fuel and labor.(Allison Joyce / Getty Images)When...
Key takeaway (Allison Joyce / Getty Images)When the war with Iran started, one of the top economic concerns globally was the slowdown of oil shipments.
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Original reporting by LAist (KPCC / Southern California Public Radio) . The Los Angeles surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
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Category: local ·
Published: July 4, 2026 ·
Source: LAist (KPCC / Southern California Public Radio) ·
Reading time: 6 min
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What is this story about? A worker spreads fertilizer after planting potatoes at Bluff View Farms on April 24 in West Jefferson, North Carolina. High fertilizer prices due to the war in Iran have hit farms already dealing with severe weather, tariffs and the high costs of fuel and labor.(Allison Joyce / Getty Images)When...
When was this published? This article was first published on July 4, 2026 by LAist (KPCC / Southern California Public Radio) and curated for The Los Angeles readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Joe Hernandez | NPR at LAist (KPCC / Southern California Public Radio). To learn more about how The Los Angeles selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
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