Author: cglen

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) President and CEO Corey Rosenbusch today applauded the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) for including fertilizer in the list of products covered by the agency’s Hours of Service (HOS) emergency declaration. This inclusion will help avoid any potential bottlenecks in the fertilizer supply chain during these challenging times.

“First of all, we thank Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Elaine Chao and FMCSA Acting Administrator Jim Mullen for adding fertilizer to the essential commodities list,” Rosenbusch said. “At the end of the day, it’s about putting food on Americans’ tables. Fertilizer relies on a safe and efficient transportation network to get crop nutrients to farmers where and when they need them. With the spring planting session upon us, any delays could lead to farmers not getting the essential crop nutrients when and where they are needed to grow the food, fuel and fiber our world needs.

TFI requested that fertilizer be added to the emergency declaration in a letter to Secretary Chao on Wednesday, urging that fertilizer is an essential precursor to food production and that the time-sensitive nature of fertilizer delivery warranted fertilizer’s inclusion. On Thursday, FMCSA responded by releasing an amended list that included fertilizer. 

“Because of Secretary Chao and Acting Administrator Mullens’ actions, farmers across the country will be able to rely on the safe and timely delivery of fertilizer on which our food security depends,” Rosenbusch concluded.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Led by The Fertilizer Institute (TFI), over 40 national food and agriculture organizations today joined together to send letters to all 50 governors requesting that they “incorporate the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) guidance and any future amendments into their state response plan, and any critical shelter-in-place or shut down orders for their state, allowing these workers, facilities and services to continue to operate and provide necessary inputs for the food and agriculture supply chain.”

The letter highlights the critical nature of these workers, facilities and services and the importance of maintaining their ability to continue to operate and provide necessary inputs for the food and agriculture supply chain. Potential disruptions to these businesses would include impacts on accessibility of seed, fertilizer, crop protection products, credit providers, agricultural labor, equipment, grains, oilseeds and processed commodities, flour, animal food and ingredients for food-producing animals, modes of transportation, daily movement of milk and all other agricultural commodities.

The letter concludes with the need for swift and consistent action, saying, “[w]ith the spring planting season already upon us, the next six to eight weeks will be crucial to ensure that American agriculture can operate safely and without undue burdens that could inhibit our ability to do what we do best, feed the world.”

The full letter can be read by clicking here.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a letter sent to all 50 state governors on Monday, The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) President and CEO Corey Rosenbusch requested that states use guidance issued by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) that lists fertilizer industry employees as essential workers and the fertilizer industry as one of the nation’s critical infrastructure industries.

“Using the federal guidelines will ensure a consistent approach across all 50 states and local governments,” Rosenbusch said. “And having fertilizer and all agriculture inputs recognized as “essential services” will ensure that American agriculture can remain operable and unfettered across the country.”

The next six to eight weeks are crucial to the fertilizer industry and farmer customers, as they conduct spring planting activities. The timely delivery of plant nutrients to American farmers is critical to their ability to produce food, fuel, and fiber.

“In order to get plant nutrients to the farm, the fertilizer industry relies on a safe and efficient transportation network, including rail carriers, ports, barges, pipelines, and trucks,” Rosenbusch continued. “Fertilizer is responsible for 50 percent of crop yields and is essential to our nation’s agricultural production and food supply. Our members have taken steps to remain fully operational throughout the duration of this event while taking necessary precautions to protect the health and safety of their employees and the communities in which they operate.”

TFI is not currently aware of any prohibitions contemplated on interstate shipments of goods to contain the spread of COVID-19 at this time, but stressed that such constraints could cripple the ability of its members to provide farmers with the fertilizers they need in a very limited planting window.

The full letter can be read by clicking here.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) President and CEO Corey Rosenbusch today applauded the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency’s (CISA) guidance listing fertilizer employees as essential and the fertilizer industry as one of the nation’s critical infrastructure industries. The industries whose workers are identified are deemed essential to the U.S. economy and are required to continue operations, to the greatest extent possible

“Fertilizer is responsible for 50 percent of crop yields and is essential to our nation’s agricultural production and food supply,” Rosenbusch said. “We thank the Trump Administration for recognizing the critical role fertilizer plays in feeding our nation and the world.”

Prior to the designation of essential by DHS, TFI members were already taking steps to remain fully operational throughout the duration of this event while taking necessary precautions to protect the health and safety of their employees and the communities in which they operate.

“In addition to thanking the administration and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), I’d also like to thank all of TFI’s member companies and employees for the incredible work they do every day and for continuing that work in the face of a global pandemic to ensure that farmers have the plant nutrients where and when they are needed to produce the food, fuel and fiber our world needs,” concluded Rosenbusch.

 The full letter sent to President Trump on Wednesday can be read by clicking here.