By Patrick Thomas

Cash-strapped American farmers sharply cut back on their fertilizer purchases during the final months of 2025, fertilizer giant Mosaic said Friday.

After harvesting a record corn crop last fall, American farmers are looking for ways to tighten their belts due to falling grain prices and rising expenses. Massive U.S. harvests of corn and soybeans in recent years have pressured prices and hurt farmers' profits. Corn futures have fallen about 4% since the Agriculture Department raised its harvest estimate for this past fall.

Mosaic estimated shipments of phosphate-a type of fertilizer-around North America were down 20% in the fourth quarter from the year prior.

Mosaic shares were down about 4% on Friday.

The Florida-based company said fertilizer demand could pick up in the coming months because of the Trump administration's $12 billion bailout for farmers announced in December. Once corn growers get their checks, they could use the money to make more fertilizer purchases as they prepare for their next crop, the company said.

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January 16, 2026 12:58 ET (17:58 GMT)

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