Author: cglen

TFI Applauds Additional Investment in Domestic Fertilizer Grants; Urges Improvements to Nutrient Management Programs

Arlington, VA – The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) President and CEO Corey Rosenbusch today welcomed the announcement from President Joe Biden that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) will be doubling its initial $250 million investment in domestic fertilizer production to $500 million.

“The importance of fertilizer in food production and national security is taking center stage. Fertilizer increases crop yields that can be attributed to feeding 50% of the global population,” Rosenbusch said. “TFI supports efforts to bolster fertilizer supply through domestic production and technology; and we also urge policy makers to remove the regulatory burdens that inhibit growth of existing fertilizer production.”

Rosenbusch added that the United States has one of the most robust and competitive fertilizer industries in the world and is one of only three countries to have at least twenty unique fertilizer producers.

“We look forward to working with the USDA on how to most efficiently leverage those funds in a way that positively impacts farmers who rely on fertilizers to feed the crops that feed the world.”

President Biden, speaking to local growers at a farm in Kankakee, IL, also addressed the need to increase access to existing nutrient management tools, an issue that TFI has been supporting through its industry-wide 4R Nutrient Stewardship program and by seeking streamlining of USDA technical assistance programs.

“There are barriers to adoption that must be addressed,” Rosenbusch stressed. “The biggest thing the administration can do is to allow Certified Crop Advisors (CCAs) to be recognized as Technical Service Providers (TSP) which would allow them to write nutrient management plans known as 590 plans.”

Additional improvements include expanded eligibility for the 590 grant program, allowing agricultural retailers to be eligible for all Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) grants and Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) funds, building a dedicated Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) initiative to support and encourage sustainable, climate smart nutrient stewardship practice adoption, and to increase the cost-share rate within NRCS programs to 75%.

“Food security is national security,” concluded Rosenbusch. “We thank President Biden for his focus on these critical issues and we will continue working with the Administration to ensure U.S. farmers receive this necessary input and have the tools they need to promote the efficient and sustainable use of fertilizer.”

TFI recently released a number of actions that policymakers can take to strengthening domestic fertilizer production and address supply chain vulnerabilities. That document can be found here.

 

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The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) is the leading voice of the nation’s fertilizer industry. Tracing its roots back to 1883, TFI’s membership includes fertilizer producers, wholesalers, retailers and trading firms. TFI’s full-time staff, based in Washington, D.C., serves its members through legislative, educational, technical, economic information and public communication programs. Find more information about TFI online at TFI.org and follow us on Twitter at @Fertilizer_Inst. Learn more about TFI’s nutrient stewardship initiatives at nutrientstewardship.org and on Twitter at @4rnutrients.

TFI Applauds STB Hearing on Freight Rail Service

Arlington, VA – The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) President and CEO Corey Rosenbusch thanked the Surface Transportation Board (STB) for holding this week’s hearing on “Urgent Issues in Freight Rail Service.”

“Railroads are critical to the on-time delivery of fertilizer to farmers exactly where and when they need it,” Rosenbusch said. “We appreciate the opportunity to provide testimony on how rail service issues are negatively impacting the cost and timely delivery of fertilizer inputs to farmers.”

In submitted testimony, TFI cited such issues as the implementation of precision scheduled railroading (PSR), a lack of competition, and a lack of structural and market-based incentives to be customer-oriented as leading to reduced rail service, high shipping rates, and poor cycle times.

The STB also heard testimony from Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Department of Agriculture Deputy Secretary Dr. Jewel Bronaugh, both of whom mentioned the importance and challenges facing fertilizer shippers, as well as other agriculture groups such as the American Farm Bureau Federation and the National Grain and Feed Association.

“The ag economy relies heavily on dependable rail service to get inputs to farmers,” concluded Rosenbusch. “The inclusion of so many other groups experiencing the same challenges as the fertilizer industry shows that these issues are felt broadly, are having negative impacts, and must be addressed through modern reforms.”

 

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The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) is the leading voice of the nation’s fertilizer industry. Tracing its roots back to 1883, TFI’s membership includes fertilizer producers, wholesalers, retailers and trading firms. TFI’s full-time staff, based in Washington, D.C., serves its members through legislative, educational, technical, economic information and public communication programs. Find more information about TFI online at TFI.org and follow us on Twitter at @Fertilizer_Inst. Learn more about TFI’s nutrient stewardship initiatives at nutrientstewardship.org and on Twitter at @4rnutrients.

TFI Disappointed in NEPA Regression, Says Permitting Must be Addressed

ARLINGTON, VA – The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) this week reacted to the Council on Environmental Quality’s (CEQ) final rulemaking reversing 2020 National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) updates, saying the new rule will make the already costly and time-consuming process of obtaining required permitting even more burdensome.

“We have a member company who has already spent over a decade and more than $20 million dollars for a mining project that still has not been approved,” said TFI President and CEO Corey Rosenbusch. “The current fertilizer market has policymakers asking for solutions that will help farmers have an affordable and abundant supply of fertilizer; yet here is a regulation that will do just the opposite. What the administration has done here not only doesn’t help the current market environment, it hurts it.”

A more efficient permitting process is needed to ensure that mining projects critical to the needs of US industry and consumers have a clear path forward towards compliance and approval. Positive steps were made with changes to NEPA in 2020, but those updates have been removed and the permitting process has regressed to the badly ineffective 1978 review process.

“This is not progress, this is regression. It’s more red tape, duplicative regulations, and delays that will cost consumers in the end. We are moving in the wrong direction,” Rosenbusch continued. “Our country has resources, and we should access them responsibly. With this move by CEQ, accessibility and the feasibility of utilizing these minerals is thrown into question and the ones who will pay the price for this shortsighted move are individuals and families already struggling with the rising costs of everyday goods.”

There is bipartisan support in Congress for permitting reform, as evidenced in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act passed in 2021. Current legislation is also aimed squarely at building on that support for broader reform, namely the BUILDER Act.

“TFI strongly supports the BUILDER Act and any other legislative vehicle that can make environmental reviews more efficient, reduce duplicative regulatory burdens, provide clear paths to approvals, and make our country more self-reliant and prosperous,” Rosenbusch concluded. “We also urge the administration to rethink their changes to NEPA and instead pay attention to the broad coalition of stakeholders that have experienced the ineffective process of the previous standard being reinstated by the administration.”  

 

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The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) is the leading voice of the nation’s fertilizer industry. Tracing its roots back to 1883, TFI’s membership includes fertilizer producers, wholesalers, retailers and trading firms. TFI’s full-time staff, based in Washington, D.C., serves its members through legislative, educational, technical, economic information and public communication programs. Find more information about TFI online at TFI.org and follow us on Twitter at @Fertilizer_Inst. Learn more about TFI’s nutrient stewardship initiatives at nutrientstewardship.org and on Twitter at @4rnutrients.

TFI Engages with Congressional Ag Committee Members

ARLINGTON, VA – The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) President and CEO Corey Rosenbusch today issued the following statement after participating in a roundtable discussion regarding fertilizer markets with House Republican Members and staff of the Committee on Agriculture.

“Fertilizer is an essential tool for farmers to achieve desired yields and we appreciate the opportunity to offer solutions to the current market pressures with members of the Agriculture Committee. During this busy spring planting season – and throughout the year – the fertilizer industry is committed to ensuring adequate supply to meet farmer demand for the nutrients that are so essential to growing healthy and abundant crops.

The effects of COVID-19, extreme weather disruptions, rising energy prices, facility maintenance, geopolitical events, and export bans have dramatically affected our marketplace.  As a globally traded commodity, supply and demand economics drive the fertilizer markets, and ninety percent of the world’s fertilizer is consumed outside the United States. Fertilizer feeds the food that feeds the world, so the issues our industry faces significantly impact global food security. Tackling the challenges to the world’s food supply truly requires collaboration, innovation and partnerships, and we welcome this and future opportunities to discuss these solutions.”

 

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The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) is the leading voice of the nation’s fertilizer industry. Tracing its roots back to 1883, TFI’s membership includes fertilizer producers, wholesalers, retailers and trading firms. TFI’s full-time staff, based in Washington, D.C., serves its members through legislative, educational, technical, economic information and public communication programs. Find more information about TFI online at TFI.org and follow us on Twitter at @Fertilizer_Inst. Learn more about TFI’s nutrient stewardship initiatives at nutrientstewardship.org and on Twitter at @4rnutrients.

TFI Celebrates Ag Day on National Mall

ARLINGTON, VA – The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) is taking part in the National Ag Day Celebration of Modern Agriculture. The celebration, March 21 and 22, is being held on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. and showcases innovations that are enabling modern agriculture to sustainably provide for a growing world. Joining TFI at the event are over 30 agricultural trade associations, equipment manufacturers and grower groups.  

“The fertilizer industry is proud of our achievements in worker safety, energy use and environmental stewardship and we welcome the opportunity to educate the community about the critical role we play in sustainably feeding the world,” said TFI President and CEO Corey Rosenbusch.” Each step of the fertilizer supply chain is focused on doing more with fewer resources and with environmental and community impacts in mind.”

Attendees of the public event will learn about the advances that drive American agriculture’s ability to produce more while reducing its climate impact, water runoff and improving farm safety. Earlier this month, TFI released its annual sustainability report, highlighting industry improvement in the key priority areas of workforce safety, energy and the environment, fertilizer use and industry innovation. That report can be found here.

 

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The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) is the leading voice of the nation’s fertilizer industry. Tracing its roots back to 1883, TFI’s membership includes fertilizer producers, wholesalers, retailers and trading firms. TFI’s full-time staff, based in Washington, D.C., serves its members through legislative, educational, technical, economic information and public communication programs. Find more information about TFI online at TFI.org and follow us on Twitter at @Fertilizer_Inst. Learn more about TFI’s nutrient stewardship initiatives at nutrientstewardship.org and on Twitter at @4rnutrients.

TFI and NGFA Urge Biden Administration Work with Canada to Ease Supply Chain Strains

ARLINGTON, VA – In a March 7 letter to President Joe Biden, The Fertilizer Institute, the National Grain and Feed Association, and 19 other members of the Agricultural Transportation Working Group requested the administration work with the Canadian government to avert a major railway labor strike and to rescind the cross-border vaccine mandate for workers moving essential commerce.

“(I)f the U.S. and Canadian governments allow the following supply chain disruptions to persist into the spring fertilizer season, the impacts to our industry and North American farmers could be devastating,” the working group noted.

The letter references a potential upcoming labor disruption at Canadian Pacific (CP) Railway. The Teamsters Canada Rail Conference recently voted in favor of strike action, which could happen as early as March 16. The impact would be significant for grain movements on both sides of the border for livestock feeding and processing operations served by the CP. The strike also would halt the CP route that carries U.S grain to the Pacific Northwest export market. Grain is CP’s largest line of business and approximately 10-15 percent of CP’s business is fertilizer, the working group noted.

“A CP railway strike would severely curtail fertilizer supply and shipments into the United States and would happen at the worst possible time as farmers are planting their 2022 crops,” the letter states. “Given the fragility of current supply chains, urgent attention and engagement with all parties is needed to avert a potential strike.”

The letter also urged the U.S. and Canadian governments to modify or rescind their mandates blocking unvaccinated foreign nationals, including truck drivers, from crossing the border. Canada’s vaccine mandate requires U.S. truckers to show proof of vaccination before entering the country and the U.S. mandate requires foreign cross-border truckers to be vaccinated. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has said its border policy will remain in effect through April 21.

“The border policy has raised prices because it has constrained trucking capacity and made truck movements more expensive and less timely,” the letter states.

Over one million short tons of fertilizer cross the U.S.-Canada border by truck each year. March, April and May are peak months for fertilizer applications across the northern states.

“Given the urgency of several supply-chain challenges, we urge revision or rescission of the border policy prior to April 21,” the working group stated.

View the full letter here.

 

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TFI Elects 2022 Board of Directors

ARLINGTON, VA – The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) today announced the election of its 2022 Board of Directors. The election took place during a vote of the membership during TFI’s Annual Business Conference last week in Orlando, FL. Koch Fertilizer Executive Vice President Scott McGinn now serves as TFI’s Chairman and GROWMARK CEO-elect Mark Orr will serve as Vice Chairman.

TFI’s membership also elected the following board members for three-year terms: Ward Bloodworth, Helena Agri-Enterprises; Chris DeMoss, MFA Incorporated; Dale Edgington, Advanced Micronutrient Products; Josh Long, American Plant Food Corporation; Amy Yoder, Anuvia Plant Nutrients.

“The leadership of TFI’s Board of Directors is integral to the continued success of our organization,” said TFI President & CEO Corey Rosenbusch. “The fertilizer industry faces challenges on many fronts, but as both an organization and an industry we have been able to innovate with new technologies, advance sound public policy objectives and educate a wide audience about the critical need for fertilizer through strategic engagement. Our Board of Directors plays an active role in ensuring we have a clear vision on where we are heading as an industry and remain focused on achieving the goals we have set for ourselves. I am excited to work with this talented set of industry leaders.”

TFI is the leading voice of the nation’s fertilizer industry. Tracing its roots back to 1883, TFI’s membership includes fertilizer producers, wholesalers, retailers, and trading firms. TFI’s full-time staff, based in Washington, D.C., serves its members through legislative, educational, technical, economic information and public communication programs.

Find more information about TFI online at TFI.org.

Learn more about TFI’s nutrient stewardship initiatives at nutrientstewardship.org.

 

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The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) is the leading voice of the nation’s fertilizer industry. Tracing its roots back to 1883, TFI’s membership includes fertilizer producers, wholesalers, retailers and trading firms. TFI’s full-time staff, based in Washington, D.C., serves its members through legislative, educational, technical, economic information and public communication programs. Find more information about TFI online at TFI.org and follow us on Twitter at @Fertilizer_Inst. Learn more about TFI’s nutrient stewardship initiatives at nutrientstewardship.org and on Twitter at @4rnutrients.

TFI Submits Comments on WOTUS, Urges Delay Until Pivotal SCOTUS Ruling

ARLINGTON, VA – The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) this week submitted comments to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers regarding a proposed revised definition of “Waters of the United States” (WOTUS).

“TFI members have a strong interest in ensuring that the definition of WOTUS, which governs the reach of federal regulatory authority under the CWA, is clearly defined and consistently implemented across the nation,” said TFI President & CEO Corey Rosenbusch. “Many of our member companies must plan years in advance to obtain all necessary permits in accordance with the Act. Their operations therefore depend on regulatory certainty and predictability.”

TFI strongly supported the Navigable Waters Protection Rule (NWPR) because of the certainty and predictability it provided to the fertilizer industry but was disappointed by the agencies’ decision to stop implementing the rule nationwide following a ruling by a judge in Arizona. Equally disappointing to the fertilizer industry was the agencies’ decision to propose a formal repeal of the NWPR and codify a case-by-case framework for determining jurisdiction of non-navigable waters that the agencies and nearly all other stakeholders previously agreed was unworkable.

Complicating matters further is a pending U.S. Supreme Court ruling to determine whether Justice Kennedy’s “significant nexus” is the proper test for asserting jurisdiction over wetlands that are adjacent to tributaries of “waters of the U.S.”

“The agencies should postpone all rulemaking proceedings until after an opinion has been issued on this case to reduce duplicated efforts on behalf of the agencies and stakeholder communities, reduce regulatory whiplash, and increase the chances of a final definition being sustainable,” Rosenbusch continued.

TFI is not alone in requesting a delay in agency rulemaking on WOTUS until the Supreme Court has issued their ruling. A letter led by Senator John Thune (R-SD) urging the EPA and USACE to stop the rulemaking process until a Supreme Court ruling garnered the signature of all fifty republican Senators and was sent to agency heads on Thursday, February 3rd.

“TFI recommends the agencies withdraw the Proposed Rule because it impermissibly strips the term “navigation” of any meaning. The NWPR’s definition should be used as the foundation for a durable definition,” Rosenbusch concluded. “And if the Proposed Rule is not withdrawn, at a minimum they should pause the current rulemaking effort until the Supreme Court rules on which test is most appropriate for determining the definition.”

TFI’s full comments can be found here.

 

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The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) is the leading voice of the nation’s fertilizer industry. Tracing its roots back to 1883, TFI’s membership includes fertilizer producers, wholesalers, retailers and trading firms. TFI’s full-time staff, based in Washington, D.C., serves its members through legislative, educational, technical, economic information and public communication programs. Find more information about TFI online at TFI.org and follow us on Twitter at @Fertilizer_Inst. Learn more about TFI’s nutrient stewardship initiatives at nutrientstewardship.org and on Twitter at @4rnutrients.

TFI Applauds Hedlund’s Confirmation to STB

ARLINGTON, VA – The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) President and CEO Corey Rosenbusch released the following statement regarding Ms. Karen Hedlund’s Senate confirmation to serve as a Board Member of the Surface Transportation Board (STB).

“Congratulations to Karen Hedlund on her confirmation to serve as a Board Member of the STB. Ms. Hedlund has a wealth of transportation experience from her time serving the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHA) in various roles over more than a decade. TFI was pleased to support her confirmation and looks forward to working with her to promote rail competition and reliable service.”

 

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The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) is the leading voice of the nation’s fertilizer industry. Tracing its roots back to 1883, TFI’s membership includes fertilizer producers, wholesalers, retailers and trading firms. TFI’s full-time staff, based in Washington, D.C., serves its members through legislative, educational, technical, economic information and public communication programs. Find more information about TFI online at TFI.org and follow us on Twitter at @Fertilizer_Inst. Learn more about TFI’s nutrient stewardship initiatives at nutrientstewardship.org and on Twitter at @4rnutrients.

TFI Celebrates Infrastructure Passage

ARLINGTON, VA – The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) President and CEO Corey Rosenbusch late Friday applauded the House passage of the “Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.” The legislation authorizes a new highway bill and includes funding for roads, bridges, broadband and water navigation.

“Infrastructure investment is critical to the fertilizer industry because of the just-in-time nature of demand. Fertilizer needs to be delivered to growers exactly when and where they need it and there is not much room for error,” Rosenbusch said. “Bottlenecks due to road or bridge closures or delays due to crumbling locks and dams can negatively impact the timely delivery of necessary crop nutrients to farmers. Fertilizer is critical to strong yields and the success of America’s agricultural industry.

Surface transportation provisions of particular importance to the fertilizer industry are $110 billion for Highway programs, including $12.5 billion for the Bridge Investment Program, and the inclusion of the Drive Safe Act apprentice program and Hours of Service exemption. “All fertilizer utilized in the United States touches a truck at least once, meaning that reliable and safe highways, roads and bridges are of paramount importance,” Rosenbusch explained.

Rosenbusch next highlighted the $17 billion for waterway infrastructure and the $2.5 billion marked for inland waterways construction, explaining that “fertilizer moves year-round by rail, barge and pipeline and ocean vessels and there is much funding needed to address over $8 billion in backlog maintenance for inland waterways.”

Connecting rural America to broadband is also a priority of TFI, with Rosenbusch calling it essential for precision agriculture and the wider implementation of 4R Nutrient Stewardship practices, a scientifically proven method of maximizing crop yields while significantly reducing environmental impacts.

“It has been a long road to get here, but we applaud the House and Senate for coming together and passing this much needed legislation,” Rosenbusch concluded. “Half of all crop yields are directly attributable to fertilizer. If growers don’t receive fertilizer in a timely manner, then there are potential consequences for food security and the environment. We urge President Biden to sign this landmark legislation as soon as it comes across his desk.”