The ongoing conflict in the Middle East and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz could affect U.S. food prices, and agriculture agencies are asking President Donald Trump for help.

Farming Groups Speak Out

With global oil prices spiking along with fertilizer prices, the stock prices of CF Industries Holdings (NYSE:CF), Mosaic Company (NYSE:MOS) and Nutrien (NYSE:NTR) are getting a boost. But the cost pressures are squeezing farmers, prompting groups like the American Farm Bureau Federation to seek federal assistance.

In a March 19 letter, the farmers detailed hardships due to a January winter storm in portions of the country compounded by ongoing inflation concerns, trade uncertainties and declining crop prices.

"As planting season began in earnest across much of the U.S., the closure of the Strait of Hormuz sent fuel and fertilizer prices skyrocketing — further straining a farm economy that already had its back against the wall," the letter said.

The agriculture sector faces a potential “serious threat" for the current growing season due to weather challenges and geopolitical uncertainties, the letter continued. "Food security is national security, and American farmers call on you to support additional resources during this turbulent time to ensure a strong, reliable and affordable domestic food supply for communities across the country."

Potential support named in the letter includes Farmer Bridge Assistance Program payments, support for specialty crop growers, support for farmers who previously sold at low prices due to trade uncertainty, and tax incentives.

"We appreciate your longstanding commitment to rural America. Now is the time to ensure that American agriculture can weather this period of extraordinary strain.”

White House, Democratic Party Speak Out

Asked for comment on the letter sent to the president by the various agriculture organizations, White House spokesperson Anna Kelly shared what is being done to help farmers.

"As President Trump has said, any economic disruptions caused by the rogue Iranian regime are temporary as the United States Military continues to meet or exceed all of its goals during Operation Epic Fury," Kelly told Benzinga. "In order to ease the impact on American farmers during this period, the administration is authorizing the export of fertilizer and its precursors from Venezuela and temporarily waiving the Jones Act to help fertilizer flow freely to US ports."

Kelly also highlighted the past support for farmers from Trump.

"The President has stood up for our agriculture industry more than anyone, including by lowering input costs, establishing Farmer Bridge Assistant payments, negotiating fairer trade deals, ending the death tax, and more — and the best is yet to come for our great farmers."

The Democratic National Committee argues that Trump has abandoned America's farmers.

"Donald Trump says he ‘loves farmers' and that he'll ‘never do anything to hurt our farmers,' but his reckless trade has devastated America's farmers, and his unpopular war of choice with Iran has pushed them to a breaking point," the DNC said in a prepared statement. "The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has sent fertilizer prices skyrocketing and left farmers squeezed as the spring planting season begins."

The email said family farms are struggling to sell their crops and are nearing bankruptcy, with bankruptcies in the sector hitting the fastest pace in five years last year.

"Donald Trump has repeatedly abandoned American farmers, first with his reckless trade war that hollowed out farms across the country, and now with his deadly and costly war with Iran," DNC Communications Director Rosemary Boeglin said.

Boeglin said Trump "has sold out American farmers" and is more focused on foreign interests and tax cuts for billionaires.

"So much for ‘America First.'"

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