The Fertilizer Institute is calling for a national U.S. policy to increase domestic production of crop nutrients as farmers battle soaring input costs and turbulent global supply chains.
The effort should be led by the agriculture secretary, America's top fertilizer lobbying group said in a statement on Monday.
The proposal is part of a broader set of actions sought by TFI to strengthen American agriculture, including a faster process for building and upgrading plants and mines and the appointment of a full-time fertilizer economist at USDA to monitor the market and improve transparency.
The statement was released one day before a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on competition issues in the fertilizer sectors.
Fertilizer prices and availability are under heightened scrutiny by the Trump administration, state farm groups as well as both Republican and Democratic members of Congress. Market-disrupting events like President Donald Trump's tariffs on key suppliers and Russia's invasion of Ukraine have put a spotlight on the U.S.'s heavy reliance on foreign supply chains for potash, phosphates and nitrogen, all crucial nutrients for growing crops that are relied on domestically and worldwide.
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“Global factors from all sides continue to drive fertilizer costs, including geopolitical instability, export restrictions, supply chain disruptions, and energy markets," TFI President and CEO Corey Rosenbusch said. "The best way Washington can help farmers is by expanding market access for their products, cutting red tape, and strengthening domestic fertilizer supply.”
Rosenbusch is scheduled to testify at Tuesday’s hearing along with Andy LaVigne, president and CEO of the American Seed Trade Association.
Along with potash, TFI is urging that phosphate be included on the final U.S. list of critical minerals to bolster supply security. The group also seeks energy policies that help ensure affordable and reliable supplies of natural gas, a key feedstock for nitrogen fertilizers that are crucial for raising corn, wheat and a wide range of fruit and vegetables. Further, TFI is calling for "a more open, fair, predictable, and transparent trading environment."
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