The U.S. Department of Agriculture is asking farmers to weigh in on the fertilizer market, launching an effort to gather grower input on pricing, availability and purchasing practices for one of the most volatile line items in crop budgets.

The request comes from USDA as the department works to build a clearer picture of how producers buy fertilizer and what they pay for it. Fertilizer typically ranks among the largest variable input costs for row-crop operations, and sharp swings in nitrogen, phosphate and potash prices since 2020 have squeezed farm margins even when commodity prices held strong.

USDA has not tied the outreach to a specific regulatory action, but the department's data-collection effort signals continued federal attention to concentrated input markets. Farmers who participate will have a direct channel to report what they are seeing on price quotes, delivery terms and supplier availability in their regions.

For growers, the timing matters. Fertilizer purchasing for the next cropping cycle is already underway in many areas, and basis, timing of application and retailer contracts all shape the effective cost per acre. Any USDA findings that document regional price disparities or supply bottlenecks could inform future policy on domestic fertilizer production capacity, an area Congress has targeted with earlier funding measures.

The department's move follows a period in which fertilizer prices spiked to record highs in 2021 and 2022 before retreating, though costs remain above their pre-pandemic averages for many operations. Producers have responded by adjusting application rates, shifting nutrient sources and, in some cases, renegotiating crop nutrient plans with agronomists.

USDA is encouraging farmers to respond so the department can ground its market assessment in actual purchasing conditions rather than relying solely on industry-reported figures. Survey-based data carries its own caveats — results depend on who responds and when — but direct grower input adds a check against wholesale price indices that may not reflect what operators pay at the farm gate.

Farmers and industry participants can submit input through USDA channels as the department compiles its assessment of the fertilizer market. The findings could shape how the department approaches input-cost monitoring, and potentially future support programs, in the seasons ahead.