Think Out Loud

War in Iran is affecting Oregon farmers as oil and fertilizer prices rise

By Allison Frost (OPB)
March 30, 2026 1 p.m.

Broadcast: Monday, March 30

The U.S.-led war in Iran is not just driving oil prices up. It’s doing the same for fertilizer. A third of the world’s supply of fertilizer passes through the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has blockaded.

Woodburn farmer Jon Iverson grows grass seed, wheat, grapes and tulips, among other crops. Molalla nursery owner Jim Gilbert grows fruiting plants, among others. They join us to share how these price hikes are affecting them. We also hear from Alice Morrison, the co-executive director of Friends of Family Farms, who tells us what she’s hearing from their small and midsized members.

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