Trump's latest foray condemned for heaping even more pain on rural America

Farmers across the country warned they cannot survive for much longer as the Iran war worsens the fuel and fertilizer stocks.

Industry experts said that already tight profit margins are being eaten into as a result of Donald Trump's strikes on the Middle Eastern country, and there does not appear to be a reprieve in sight for the agricultural industry.

Lesly Weber McNitt, vice president of public policy for the National Corn Growers Association, warned that the closure of the Strait of Hormuz had massively affected supply and, as a result, farmers are struggling to make ends meet.

"When these fertilizers can’t be transported through the Strait of Hormuz, there are real implications for availability and price, and there is a global market impact," she said.

A total of 54 agriculture groups wrote to the president on the issues at hand, including "investments made last year in enhancing farm risk management tools and in securing much-needed tax relief for farmers." The letter, seen by Straight Arrow News, also noted issues over "record inflation, trade uncertainty, rapidly declining crop prices and catastrophic natural disasters."

Trump has already been blamed for devastation of America's farming industry. His tariff policies have significantly impacted agriculture as retaliatory tariffs from China and other nations have reduced demand for U.S. crops, particularly soybeans and corn.

Farmer Jason Sheehan, who lives in Washington state, says the Iran war is killing his business. Despite fueling up in December and January, and then again in June and July, Sheehan says the farm is already "burning through" oil and will deplete its resources faster than in previous years.

"You’ve really only got two ways to pass that cost on. You can only absorb so much more. You’re already the dead last net profitability in the country [in Washington state.] I mean, you can only eat into your equity so long."

Sheehan also notes the price of fertilizer is causing long-term concern for those in the industry, adding, "I don’t know what’s going to happen with next fall’s fertilizer. Everybody’s suddenly aware of what’s going on with fertilizer and fuel, but I think they also need to be aware that there’s been a lot building up to this in agriculture."