Connecticut
Soaring fertilizer prices from Iran war impacting Connecticut farmers
The Iran war is having a big impact on farmers in Connecticut who are now dealing with soaring fertilizer prices. It’s a crucial material that helps grow or produce the food you buy at the grocery store.
“I go to the grocery store, and you see how expensive it is,” Jon Hermonot, an owner of Fairholm Farm, said.
High supermarket prices have Hermonot wincing whenever he makes a grocery run, but he has a good understanding of how prices are set, as he owns Fairholm Farm. It’s a dairy farm in Woodstock. Hermonot says it’s a very demanding and intensive operation with small profit margins.
“We put a lot of our money back into it, and we want this farm to be here,” he said.
He has hundreds of cows to feed and care for, but doing so has gotten harder ever since the Iran war began, especially because of the price of fertilizer.
“You combine that with the price of fuel and the other costs on the dairy farm, and to top that off, it’s like a perfect storm right now,” he said.
At the farm, they have seen the price of fertilizer double in about a month, in the tens of thousands of dollars. It’s used to grow the corn that goes into the feed the dairy cows eat.
“No fertilizer, no food. No farms, no food,” Paul Larson, president of the Connecticut Farm Bureau board, said.
He said fertilizer is crucial to grow many types of crops.
“Whether it’s vegetables, you’re raising hay, corn silage,” he said.
Larson explained that natural gas, a key component in fertilizer production, is affected by the war. That region produces a lot of it, and tankers are unable to get through the Strait of Hormuz, leading to a jump in price on the world market. Larson said farmers across Connecticut are noticing.
“It went around $400 in early February, but then after this war started in Iran, we’re now up to $850 to $900 a ton,” Larson said.
UConn vegetable and hemp specialist and educator Shuresh Ghimire said the timing isn’t great. Farmers have to decide now what to grow and how much to plant, so they’re ready for harvest in the fall.
“Not enough fertilizer would mean decreased crop yields. And that would also translate to increased produce prices at grocery stores later in the summer and fall,” he said.
Ghimire says even if the war ended quickly, there’s no immediate relief for farmers.
“The prices are not going to come down the day after. It will take some time to come down,” he said.
Larson and Hermenot hope President Trump secures a peace deal soon that ends the conflict and reopens trade to stabilize prices.
“That would be amazing. That would take the edge off of this,” Larson said.
“Maybe coming down to an agreement that can maybe open up the channel for oil to be flowing again,” Hermenot said.
According to Love Food, the best bowl of ramen in Connecticut isn’t tucked away in one of the state’s larger cities. Instead, you’ll have to make your way to Granby, where Tiger Belly Noodle Bar has earned national recognition for serving what the publication says is Connecticut’s top ramen.
If you’re expecting a massive menu with dozens of choices, that’s not what you’ll find here. Tiger Belly keeps things relatively simple, focusing on a handful of carefully crafted noodle dishes that have developed a loyal following. The standout, according to Love Food, is the restaurant’s aptly named Darkness Ramen.
This isn’t your average bowl of noodles. The star of the dish is a rich tonkotsu broth that’s simmered for more than 25 hours to develop its deep, savory flavor. It’s then topped with tender pork belly, enoki mushrooms, plenty of garlic, and finished with black garlic oil for an extra layer of richness. The result is a bowl that’s hearty, comforting, and packed with bold flavors.
Ramen has exploded in popularity across the United States over the past decade, with restaurants putting their own spin on the classic Japanese comfort food. Whether you prefer a traditional pork-based broth, spicy variations, seafood, or vegetarian options, there’s no shortage of great places to grab a bowl these days. But when it came to picking just one restaurant in Connecticut, Love Food says Tiger Belly Noodle Bar stands above the rest.
So, if you’re the type of person who’s willing to take a road trip for great food, Granby might deserve a spot on your list. A slow-simmered broth, fresh ingredients, and a little black garlic magic were apparently enough to earn this Connecticut restaurant some well-deserved national bragging rights.
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If you’re looking for the best barbecue restaurant in the state, you may have to drive to the state’s capital.
Business Insider identified the most beloved barbecue spot in each state, including Connecticut.
“Our list includes barbecue destinations with historical or regional significance and devoted national or local followings,” Business Insider said. “Many of the spots or their pitmasters have won major accolades, and some have appeared on mainstream TV shows.”
Business Insider’s choice for the most iconic place for barbecue in Connecticut is a specific location of a chain restaurant that has multiple stores in the Constitution State.
Here’s what Business Insider had to say about Bear’s Smokehouse Barbecue, and why it might be worth the extra trip to Hartford, Connecticut.
Bear’s Smokehouse — Hartford, Connecticut
Business Insider said the Hartford location is the most iconic Bear’s Smokehouse in Connecticut. However, Bear’s has locations in Windsor, New Haven, South Windsor, and Storrs (although that one is in a University of Connecticut Student Union).
“Local outlet Hartford Courant named Bear’s Smokehouse the best ribs and best food truck in the state,” Business Insider said. “USA Today also named it one of the best restaurants in the country in 2026 (albeit, one of the North Carolina locations).”
Chain restaurant or not, this location’s menu appears to have all the goods that make a barbecue restaurant great: beef brisket, burnt ends, pulled pork, and turkey breast, all done up in a Kansas-City style of barbecue that would make Ted Lasso proud.
They also offer some innovative takes on hearty dishes like poutine with Bear Style Poutine, which comes with fries, spicy cheese curds, brisket gravy, and your choice of meat.
You can find Bear’s Smokehouse at 25 Front St, Hartford, Connecticut.
They open at 11 a.m. on weekdays and weekends but their closing hours vary depending on the day.
Rin Velasco is a trending reporter. She can be reached at rvelasco@usatodayco.com.
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