Many farmers were able to postpone cost increases through hedging strategies or by buying fertilizer, chemicals and other supplies in bulk in 2006 or 2007, when they were cheaper.

许多农民曾采取对冲策略，或在2006年和2007年趁化肥、化学品及其他农用物资较便宜之时大量买进，以此延缓农耕成本的上涨。

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Cost pressures, namely competition from cheaper foreign fertilizer, caused other domestic plants to fold, many in the wake of the natural gas price spike after Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

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Substitutes could be far cheaper than ears of corn--they require less attention, water, fertilizer and pesticides.

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