DairyTalk 325: Global Conflict, Local Margins: Why Fertilizer Costs Matter More Than Diesel for Dairy Farms - by Helmut Demmelhuber

DairyTalk by Helmut Demmelhuber · Mar 14, 2026 · 22m

This podcast episode draws on a technical article examining how geopolitical tensions in the Middle East could affect dairy farm profitability. The analysis focuses on the potential impact of disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz and the resulting surge in energy and fertilizer prices. While diesel costs often receive the most attention, the article highlights nitrogen and sulfur fertilizers as the larger economic risk because they directly increase feed production costs. Even farms that grow their own forage face rising opportunity costs and expensive inputs. The underlying analysis outlines a…