Farm Input Costs Skyrocket Nationwide

Global conflict in the Middle East has disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical bottleneck for commodity trade. Prices for urea, a common nitrogen fertilizer, are up more than 25% per ton since the end of February 2026. According to a certified crop adviser at The Mill, 30–40% of all urea used on the East Coast is imported through the now-blocked strait.

The broader numbers tell the same story. New data shows all eight major fertilizers are more expensive than a month ago. Urea is up 35%, averaging $826 per ton. Anhydrous ammonia has topped $1,000 per ton for the first time since 2023, and MAP has exceeded $900 per ton

Unfortunately, the timing couldn't be worse. Planting season is well underway, and those who didn't pre-buy fertilizer are now in quite a bind. Fuel costs are also adding to the pressure. Diesel is up roughly $2 per gallon since the conflict overseas began, translating to approximately $14 more per acre in equipment operating costs. Even for smaller operations, that can add up fast.

Even if the conflict were resolved today, fertilizer prices are unlikely to drop quickly. Experts note there will be a lag before supply chains normalize and shipments from the Middle East (which take 30–45 days to reach the Port of New Orleans) resume at scale. 

This is shaping up to be one of the most expensive input seasons ever, and the uncertainty isn't over. Staying in close contact with your suppliers and planning ahead will help - one easy way is to make sure you're signed up for PepUp's standard emails as well as these Farm Fresh Gazettes. Click here to sign up, and we'll notify you when Pre-Buy is available this summer, along with other important updates.

Delaware Students Learn About Farm Life

During Ag Literacy Week this past March, volunteers with the Delaware Farm Bureau Foundation traded the field for the classroom, visiting elementary schools across the state to talk with students about where their food comes from.

The featured book this year was "Kenna, the Produce Princess: The Crown of Confidence," written by local farmer and author Katey Jo Evans. The story follows a young girl through life on the farm and at the county fair, weaving in lessons about perseverance and self-belief alongside the agricultural themes. Every participating classroom received its own copy, donated by the Foundation.

Volunteers reached more than ten schools statewide, reading to classrooms and fielding the kinds of questions only kids think to ask.
"My students were actively engaged in the agriculture stories and real-world examples," said Rebecca Fabi, a teacher at Clayton Intermediate School. "They were participating in conversations about each of the books and were eager to hear more."

For those of us who work in and around agriculture every day, it's easy to forget how disconnected most kids are from where their food actually starts. Programs like this help our local kids form a better understanding of where their food comes from and how hard farmers work to provide it!

Know a teacher that would love this? To learn more about the DEFB Foundation or request a visit for a classroom or youth camp, contact Executive Director Joseph Poppiti at joseph.poppiti@defb.org or 302-697-3183.

NASA's Space Program Benefits Agriculture, Too

The Artemis II crew made history on April 6, 2026, completing a flyby of the moon and traveling farther from Earth than any humans before them. It's easy to watch a launch like that and see it as purely a space story - but NASA's efforts have a long history of benefiting farmers, as well.

Satellite-based precision agriculture tools trace back to NASA's Earth-observing Landsat program. Moisture sensors and drip irrigation systems grew out of NASA's water recycling research for space missions. Drone and autonomous equipment technology owes a significant debt to NASA's robotics development.

The connection is more direct than ever today. NASA's Acres Farm Innovation Ambassador Team is actively running field experiments to adapt the agency's tools for real-world agriculture. One early project is the Flickner Innovation Farm in Kansas, a partnership between NASA and Kansas State University focused on developing technology to monitor soybean quality. Practical outputs from that work include better field mapping at harvest, improved water management, and more precise drought monitoring.

While the Artemis II mission wasn't designed with agriculture in mind, the discoveries and continued support for the program fuel the NASA research that does benefit farms right here on the ground. For farmers and space enthusiasts alike, it's hard not to be excited about what comes next!

Maryland's Department of Agriculture and Regional EPA in Agreement: Farms Should Be Supported

Maryland farmers got a little good news this month! On April 9, the Maryland Department of Agriculture and the EPA's Mid-Atlantic Region signed a renewed five-year agreement committing both agencies to work together in support of the state's agricultural community through 2031.

The agreement focuses on expanding access to funding opportunities, improving communication between farmers and regulators, and coordinating conservation programs that benefit both farm operations and the Chesapeake Bay watershed. It also includes farm tours, roundtables, and joint training to keep farmers informed about compliance and available resources.

"Every day, I see the commitment Maryland's farmers bring to environmental stewardship," said MDA Secretary Kevin Atticks, "whether it's ensuring our soils are healthy to implementing conservation practices to improve Chesapeake Bay water quality."

The agreement runs through 2031.

DFBF's Annual Milk Run/Walk (5K or 10K)

On Saturday, May 16th, 2026, the Delaware Farm Bureau Foundation is hosting the 13th Annual Milk Run/Walk at Ramsey’s Farm in Wilmington, DE. All net proceeds will go to The Ministry of Caring’s “Milk for Children Fund”, the Food Bank of Delaware's “Backpack Program”, and the Delaware Farm Bureau Foundation’s efforts to advance agricultural literacy.

The Ministry of Caring in Wilmington serves about 500 nutritious meals at no cost to needy and hungry men, women, and children daily, with milk being just one of their offerings at the table. The Food Bank of Delaware’s Backpack Program provides food for at-risk children on the weekends and holidays when school is not in session.

The Milk Run has raised over $260,000 in the last 12 years of the event. While success has set the bar high, the hope is to keep that number growing! If you're looking for a way to get outside in May and put your steps toward something that directly feeds families in our area, this is it - register below.

Farm Spotlight
Sturgis Farms in Painter, Virginia

Left to Right: Luke Carpenter, LoriAnn Sturgis, and Lee Sturgis

In Painter, Virginia, you can find Lee Sturgis tending to the land his family has farmed for four generations and counting. Alongside his wife LoriAnn, who handles the books, the Sturgises farm roughly 4,000 acres on Virginia's Eastern Shore, growing corn, soybeans, wheat, potatoes, snap beans, canola, and milo. Of those seven crops, potatoes are the make-or-break. Right now, the biggest pressure on the farm isn't the usual woes like bad weather or staffing challenges, but simply the input costs. Fuel and fertilizer have both been rising mercilessly for the last few weeks. Grain prices have offered some relief, but land rent is yet another squeeze: about three-quarters of what they farm is rented, and landowners keep pushing rates higher. Lee has even watched some neighbors lease their fields to “high-paying” solar companies, only to see those companies fold and the new operators refuse to honor the original terms. What glitters isn't always gold.

For Lee, managing cash flow through all of it may be the hardest part of the job. There are only 2-3 “paydays” in a year, with nothing coming in between January and June. That reality demands long-term planning and careful budgeting. By September, Lee is already planning for the next April. PepUp is able to help with pricing strategy across all fuels with Pre-Buy and other convenient pricing programs. Lee’s favorite part of the job will sound familiar: watching something grow from a single seed until it feeds a community. That's how it started with his great-grandfather, and that's how it runs today. For new farmers thinking about getting into the business, Lee and LoriAnn have clear advice: start small, find a mentor, and take care of your equipment.

Lee, LoriAnn, and the Sturgis family, thank you for taking the time to connect with us. We are grateful you have allowed us to learn and share the history of your family farm.

Thank you for being a loyal PepUp customer!

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