We know what’s coming and we are prepared.
Global fertilizer prices are rising: 25% of nitrogen trade flows through the Strait of Hormuz. Its closure has seen Urea prices jump 15% in just the last days.
This comes just in time for Spring planting, meaning farmers (who are already going bankrupt at a record pace) will literally have to give up the farm, accelerating consolidation into the hands of technocrats like Gates (already the #1 individual holder of US farmland).
And, of course, it translates to higher food prices. Factor in also the cost of fuel for farm operations and product transport...and this is a full-chain gut punch for food security.
Grow those gardens!
America’s bees and beekeepers are losing a valuable ally just when they need its help most.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture plans to soon close the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, a 6,500-acre agricultural research station in Maryland that is home to the nation’s premier bee research and disease diagnosis hub, the Beltsville Bee Research Lab.
The closure comes at a critical moment for bees. In winter 2025, many beekeepers lost over half their operations as pesticide-resistant varroa mites spread, bringing deadly viruses. The losses have led to low honey production, and soaring fuel costs have made shipping bees cross-country for agricultural pollination increasingly expensive, further stressing the industry.
