Donald Trump told farmers at a Wisconsin campaign rally that the United States would “get out of the Iran problem” soon, tying the end of the conflict directly to a drop in fertilizer prices. He said fertilizer costs would fall sharply and return to levels seen four months ago. The event took place at Custer Farms in Chippewa Falls, with Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, Senator Ron Johnson, and Representative Derrick Van Orden in attendance.
The message was aimed squarely at rural voters before the midterm elections. Rising fuel and fertilizer costs have started to erode the economic message Republicans had been leaning on, and the audience in Wisconsin included farmers already struggling with input expenses.
Trump says no deal yet, but Iran will have to negotiate
NBC reported that Trump said on June 5 that Iran’s leadership had not agreed to any deal with Washington to end the conflict. He added that Iran would have “no choice” but to come to the negotiating table. Trump also claimed that U.S. forces had “completely destroyed” Iran’s military capability during the fighting.
At the same time, he acknowledged that Iran still retains part of its missile and drone stockpile. His estimate was that Iran still has about 21% to 22% of its missiles left. He said that amount remains significant, even if it is far below the level seen when the U.S. attacks began.
According to the source material, the U.S.-Iran conflict began on February 28 and had reached its 96th day. A ceasefire was reached on April 7 and extended indefinitely on April 21, but violations have continued. Core disputes, including nuclear issues and transit fees linked to the Strait of Hormuz, remain unresolved.
Energy shock feeds into farm input costs
The disruption around the Strait of Hormuz has shaken global energy supply chains since the war began. Brent crude at one point moved above $120, a gain of more than 55%. That jump flowed into agricultural inputs, lifting U.S. fertilizer prices by about 40%.
A survey by the American Farm Bureau Federation covering 5,700 farmers found that 70% could no longer afford the full amount of fertilizer they need. NOLA urea rose by $230, up 49%. UAN climbed $145, or 38%. Anhydrous ammonia in the U.S. Midwest increased by $245, or 32%. In Wisconsin, average gasoline prices stood at $4.04 on the day of the rally, $1.08 higher than a year earlier.
Rising costs become a political problem for Republicans
The report said Republicans now see a quick exit from Iran as a key condition for holding their congressional majority. The military campaign that started in late February has disrupted months of election planning and weakened the party’s “strong economy” argument. The same source said Democrats have become more optimistic about House races.
Trump did not offer a timetable for ending the conflict. Iran, based on the material provided, has not signed any ceasefire agreement so far. For farm states in the U.S., the timing of any decline in fertilizer and fuel prices remains central.