TWIN FALLS, Idaho (KMVT/KSVT) —The war with Iran is driving up the cost of diesel and fertilizer for Idaho farmers at a critical time in the growing season.

The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has disrupted global supply chains, with Saudi Arabia alone accounting for nearly 20 percent of global phosphate trade. According to Xiaoli Etienne, professor at the University of Idaho, nitrogen has taken the biggest hit.

“We have seen as much as 40% increase at the farm gate level for producers. And so for southern Idaho, the number might be a little different, but I suspect it’s very similar magnitude,” Etienne said.

The price increase is affecting farmers’ operating costs. Over 30 percent of operating costs are used to purchase fertilizer, Etienne said.

“You think about your operating costs, over 30% is used to purchase fertilizer. And we see 30 to 40% increase in the fertilizer prices. And combined, that’s a very big impact on the farmers,” she said.

The war with Iran is not the only factor affecting prices. China halted exports of fertilizer to secure their domestic planting season and stopped exporting phosphate as of a couple months ago, Etienne said.

While the U.S. doesn’t directly import phosphate from China, the reduced Chinese supply affects the global market, which ultimately impacts prices in the U.S.

Diesel is another commodity hit by the war that farmers are already feeling at the pump.

“For diesel, that’s a different story. This will probably have a more immediate impact for the producers,” Etienne said.

While farmers can battle fertilizer prices by planting different crops or reducing applications, diesel is different. There’s no substitute.

“They will need to reallocate, right? To make up this added cost, the higher expenses for the diesel. And I think, even a very small percentage change in prices, and let alone there’s a dollar or more than a dollar increase in diesel prices. This war, it’s a very tough situation for the farmers this year,” Etienne said.

Etienne said while 80 percent of farmers secured their fertilizer supply before the war started, a ceasefire won’t immediately solve the issue.

“Even with a ceasefire, or even if the war stops, the production time for fertilizer has already been lost. And that’s a very long supply chain. The impact will show up, still show up. It’s not going to go away,” she said.

Despite the current hardships for farmers, Etienne is optimistic.

“Farmers are resilient. We have seen over and over again farmers are able to overcome all those shocks they’re putting on them,” she said.

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Crews from eastern Idaho are working to contain the Snake Fire that’s burning just north of Rigby. | Courtesy Mike Miller

RIGBY — Over 50 firefighters from various agencies across eastern Idaho are working to contain a fire near the bank of the Snake River that spread to 10 acres.

According to WatchDuty, a wildfire mapping application, the fire began at around 3:45 p.m. near East 550 North and North 4200 East. The fire is listed at being at 10 acres.

Fire officials are requesting residents south of West 6800 South, 7800 South, and 8200 South and west of 400 West on those roads to prepare to evacuate if needed. These are homes west of Big Juds and along the river. Deputies are going home to home. Obey all orders and avoid the area due to the fast moving fire. Please check warn.pbs.org for the most up to date information on the fire, and evacuation notices.

If an evacuation is ordered, local officials will be setting up a relief area at the Red Brick Lyman Church at 1952 West 6000 South.

EastIdahoNews.com reached out to Central Fire Chief Nic White who is at the fire. He said the blaze is closer to the Snake River and that the cause of the fire was started from a controlled burn that got out of control.

He said at the moment Central Fire, Robert Fire Department, Idaho Falls Fire Department, North Fremont Fire District, Swan Valley Fire District, Bureau of Land Management and Bonneville County Fire District 1 are assisting in the fire.

The fire, which started on the south side of Snake River, did jump the river, but crews are now working on both sides to contain the blaze.

In another post from MCSO, Madison County marine deputies are assisting firefighters from Jefferson and Madison County with transportation via boat to the site of the fire.

EastIdahoNews.com will update the story once more information becomes available.