Fertilizer lobby to back transparency efforts at Senate hearing

The U.S. fertilizer lobby backs efforts to ramp up transparency on crop nutrient markets and supply chains, the trade group’s chief executive officer will tell lawmakers on Tuesday.

Corey Rosenbusch, CEO of The Fertilizer Institute, will deliver the message to a Senate Agriculture Committee hearing on ensuring stable and affordable fertilizer supplies for U.S. producers, TFI said in a statement.

“Farmers are facing economic pressures and uncertainty across agricultural markets,” Rosenbusch said in the statement. “Improved data sharing and market visibility can better inform farmer decisions while also strengthening supply chain resiliency.”

The CEO also plans to reaffirm TFI’s support for hiring a crop inputs economist within USDA to provide independent analysis and reporting on fertilizer and other farm input markets.

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Rosenbusch also will stress the need to expand domestic production while also recognizing the realities of a highly competitive global marketplace.

“The United States is one of only three countries with 20 or more fertilizer producers, and American companies compete fiercely with both domestic and global suppliers,” he said. “At the same time, fertilizer markets are deeply influenced by global supply chains, geopolitical events, transportation systems, and trade flows.”

TFI’s support for market transparency comes as some of the world’s biggest crop nutrient companies face scathing criticism from both farmers and government officials.

Dizzying swings in fertilizer prices and availability over the last five years have stoked both anger and suspicion aimed at the industry in general. Bipartisan congressional efforts for more clarity on pricing include bills from Iowa Republican Sens. Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst and Wisconsin Democrat Tammy Baldwin.

Farmers in Iowa, the biggest U.S. corn grower, also have heavily pushed for more government scrutiny. USDA, the Justice Department and the Federal Trade Commission are in the midst of industry probes.

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