Category: Stewardship

The Fertilizer Institute Names 2022 4R Advocates

ARLINGTON, VA, Jan. 5, 2022 – The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) today selected five farmers and their fertilizer retailers as 4R Advocates, who are being recognized for their commitment to implementing fertilizer management practices that incorporate the principles of 4R Nutrient Stewardship and have demonstrated economic and environmental benefits.

“While 4R Nutrient Stewardship is a priority for the fertilizer industry, it’s also a tangible solution for thousands of farmers across America who are seeking fertilizer application practices that have real-world impact on their bottom line and their land,” said Corey Rosenbusch, TFI President and CEO. “We are proud of the industry’s retailers who work with growers to implement these practices at the field level.”

Now in its 11th year, the 4R Advocate program demonstrates the in-field successes of implementing 4R practices based on the right source, rate, time, and placement of fertilizer. 4R Nutrient Stewardship provides a framework to achieve in-field goals, such as increased production and profitability, enhanced environmental protection, and improved sustainability.

In 2021, the fertilizer industry committed to putting 70 million acres of cropland under 4R management by 2030. A 4R acre is defined as an acre of U.S. cropland under management using 4R practices, such as crediting organic sources and removal rates, variable rate technology, split applications, the use of cover crops, accounting for weather during application, etc.

4R Advocates recognized since 2012 collectively farm more than 270,000 acres on a variety of cropping systems in 25 states. The 2022 class of 4R Advocates represents 24,200 acres across five states and grow corn, soybean, wheat, peanuts, carrots, alfalfa, and hay.

This year’s Advocates include:

  • Brooks Garland, Lee Peanut Farms, Lee, Fla.
    Keith Shaw, Mayo Ag Services, Mayo, Fla.
     
  • Wyatt Harris, Harris Farms, Hepler, Kan.
    Shannon McClintock, Hepler AgChoice-MFA, Hepler, Kan.
     
  • Brandon & Sarah Kliethermes, CADA Farms, Bunceton, Mo.
    John Reigelsberger, AgriVision Solutions, Salisbury, Mo.
     
  • Jeff Lakner, Lakner Farms, Wessington, S.D.
    Payton Eagle, Agtegra Cooperative, Wolsey, S.D.
     
  • Benjamin Ellis, Jr., Champlain, Va.
    Erin Hardin, Southern States Cooperative, Warsaw, Va.

Throughout the year the Advocates will be included in TFI’s outreach efforts to promote fertilizer management practices by hosting farm field days, participating in conference panels, and speaking on behalf of 4Rs to their farming peers.

The 4R Advocate program is one of many facets of a high-priority campaign to raise awareness and adoption of 4R Nutrient Stewardship practices. Fertilizer is a key component of sustainable crop production systems, and the fertilizer industry recognizes the need to efficiently utilize these nutrients. 4R Advocates and other farmers have partnered with The Fertilizer Institute to demonstrate how 4R practices have led to cost-efficiencies and improved environmental outcomes on their fields. More information and data on their efforts is available at 4RFarming.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. Learn more about TFI’s nutrient stewardship initiatives at nutrientstewardship.org.  

Next Gen Fertilizer Challenge Identifies New Fertilizer Technologies and Products

Arlington, Va., Oct. 18, 2021 – Today, The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) announced the organizations and products selected under the Next Gen Fertilizer Challenges, a partnership with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Collectively, the challenges aim to accelerate the development of innovative fertilizer product technologies and to increase the use of existing enhanced efficiency fertilizers (EEFS) that maintain or increase crop yields and reduce environmental impacts to air, land, and water.

“Innovation has been the hallmark of the fertilizer industry, leading us to the modern industry that helps feed the world,” said Corey Rosenbusch, TFI President and CEO. “Enhanced efficiency fertilizers and other new technologies play a big role in our ability to do this efficiently and sustainably, and I am excited to see what the future holds for the winners of this challenge.”

The organizations selected today are part of the second component of the Next Gen Fertilizer Innovation Challenge, which identifies novel pre-market technologies for fertilizers that can reduce the environmental effects from modern agriculture while maintaining or increasing crop yields.

Fertilizers facilitate the growth of crops at yields that provide sustained global food production. However, nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers applied without consideration of the principles of 4R Nutrient Stewardship (source, rate, time, and place) can have harmful economic, environmental, and social effects. EEFs and other new product technologies and formulations control fertilizer release or alter reactions to increase nutrient uptake by the plant and reduce nutrient losses to the environment. These technologies can be an important addition to a conservation practice system that helps reduce row crop agriculture impacts on the environment, while maintaining or increasing agricultural productivity and profitability.

Winners include:

Tier 1 solutions ($17,500 prize):

  • Dr. Christopher Hendrickson, Aqua-Yield Operations LLC, Draper, Utah, for a nano-smart fertilizer.
  • Taylor Pursell, Pursell Agri-Tech, Sylacauga, Ala., for “Urea 2.0,” which replaces the conventional urea core with a customizable mixture of materials to provide fertilizers tailored to local needs.

Tier 2 solutions ($10,000 prize):

  • Dr. Kuide Qin, Verdesian Life Sciences, Cary, N.C., for using innovative mixture technologies to improve performance of industry-standard nitrapyrin for longer effectiveness, less nitrate leaching, and prevention of farm equipment corrosion.
  • Dr. Catherine Roue, Fertinagro Biotech International, Portage, Mich., for “Phosphate Liberation Booster” technology, which uses secretions from phosphate-starved plants to boost plant uptake so less fertilizer may be added, and legacy phosphorus can be accessed. 
  • Chandrika Varadachari, Agtec Innovations Inc., Los Altos, Calif., for “Smart-N,” which is a smart-fertilizer that releases nutrients on-demand by the crop, and which creates a chemical “cage” for urea that dissolves into plant nutrients.

Tier 3 solutions (Honorable mention):

  • Dr. Jaroslav Nisler, the Institute of Experimental Botany, The Czech Academy of Sciences, Czech Republic, for using derivatives of the plant growth hormone MTU, which helps create longer growth periods, protection from stress, larger plants, and potentially less nutrient loss per unit of fertilizer applied.
  • Dr. Leanne Gilbertson, Civil and Environmental Engineering Department at the University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh, Penn., for creating a “protected fertilizer package,” which can carry nutrients through soil pores to the area around the plant roots.
  • Dr. Robert Neidermyer, Holganix LLC, Aston, Penn., for “Bio 800+,” a microbial inoculant that harnesses the power of over 800 species of soil microbes, kelp, and other soil amending ingredients to promote greater crop production and plant health.
  • Paul Mullins, Brandon Products Ltd., Ireland, for “BBS-1,” a biostimulant derived from seaweed extract that is applied as a fertilizer coating to improve nitrogen-uptake in root cells.

The first part of the challenge, “EEFs: Environmental and Agronomic Challenge,” identified existing EEFs currently on or near-market that meet or exceed certain environmental and agro-economic criteria. Those products were announced in March 2021 and are currently undergoing greenhouse trials at the International Fertilizer Development Center.

EPA and USDA are working in collaboration with TFI, the International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC), The Nature Conservancy (TNC), and the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA). The challenges were developed with input from stakeholders such as corn grower representatives, fertilizer companies, university researchers, and environmental and industry NGOs.

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

U.S. Fertilizer Industry Commits to 70 Million Acres Under 4R Nutrient Stewardship by 2030

ARLINGTON, Va., Oct. 14, 2021 – The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) celebrated Global Fertilizer Day yesterday, a day when agricultural professionals gather to highlight the critical key role that fertilizer plays in meeting the growing global demand for nutritious and sustainably-grown food. Today, TFI looks to the future in announcing an industry-wide commitment to commit 70 million acres under 4R Nutrient Stewardship management by 2030. Acres managed using the 4R concept incorporate practices that use the right fertilizer source at the right rate, at the right time, and in the right place. When the 4Rs are put into practice, growers are able to achieve higher yields, lower input costs, and less nutrient losses to the environment

“The sustainable use of fertilizer is not only a priority for the fertilizer industry, but for millions of farmers across the nation,” said Corey Rosenbusch, TFI president and CEO. “A key goal for the industry is a commitment to a healthy environment, and setting this goal to improved nutrient stewardship is an important step in meeting that goal.”

Last year, TFI’s Board of Directors and retail membership resolved to establish a 4R Acre target where retail members would contribute 4R acreage information to collectively meet the 70-million-acre goal by 2030. A 4R acre is defined as an acre of U.S. cropland under management using 4R practices, such as crediting organic sources and removal rates, variable rate technology, split applications, the use of cover crops, accounting for weather during application, etc.

Fertilizer is a key component of sustainable crop production systems, and the fertilizer industry recognizes the need to use these nutrients efficiently. 4R Nutrient Stewardship is an innovative and science-based approach that offers enhanced environmental protection, increased production, increased farmer profitability, and improved sustainability. Practices based on the right source, rate, time, and placement of fertilizer application can lead to improved on-farm profitability, improved water quality, and reduced loss of greenhouse gases.

The world’s growing population depends on responsible agricultural practices to provide a steady supply of food. Modern fertilizer techniques, such as 4R Nutrient Stewardship, precision agriculture, and enhanced efficiency fertilizers, are an essential part of this sustainable future, and TFI is invested in promoting best practices to help farmers improve their productivity and food nutrition.

For more information on 4R Nutrient Stewardship, including farmer profitability case studies, visit 4RFarming.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. Learn more about TFI’s nutrient stewardship initiatives at nutrientstewardship.org.

 

 

 

TFI and Ag CEOs Talk WOTUS with EPA’s Regan

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) President and CEO Corey Rosenbusch on Friday joined other CEOs of agricultural groups for a discussion with Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael Regan on the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule.

“WOTUS is incredibly important for the fertilizer industry and our grower customers,” Rosenbusch said. “For years we have been advocating for a rule that provides clarity, certainty and a sustainable national water policy that both protects the environment and facilitates smart economic development.”

TFI has long shared EPA’s goal of improving water quality and continuously advocates for the adoption of nutrient management practices such as 4R Nutrient Stewardship (using the right fertilizer source, applied at the right rate, at the right time and in the right place) that enhance environmental protection while helping to ensure farmer profitability.

“We appreciate Administrator Regan’s efforts to engage with the agricultural community and to have these opportunities to provide input and feedback directly to the administration,” Rosenbusch continued. “WOTUS has gone back and forth over the last two administrations, but we strongly recommend that the Agency retain the Navigable Water Protection Rules definitions, which provide much-needed clarity and certainty for the fertilizer industry and are protective of water resources. However, we are confident that we can work with Administrator Regan’s pragmatic approach to provide any tweaks to the definitions that may be necessary for specific areas of the country.”

 

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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’s 4R Advocate Program Now Accepting 2022 4R Advocate Nominations

WASHINGTON, Aug. 3, 2021 – The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) is now accepting nominations for the 2022 4R Advocate awards. This program recognizes farmers and fertilizer retailers for their commitment to sound nutrient stewardship using the 4Rs, or the right fertilizer source, at the right rate, the right time, and in the right place. Through these 4R farming practices, farmers improve their return on their nutrient inputs and decrease environmental impact. The announcement was made by TFI President and CEO Corey Rosenbusch today during the opening session of the InfoAg Conference in St. Louis, Missouri.

The 4R Advocate program highlights farmers’ partnerships with their retailers or certified agronomists throughout the year and demonstrates to the fertilizer industry, the agricultural community, and policymakers the real-world benefits the 4Rs deliver on the farm and in communities.

Advocate nominations are due no later than Friday, October 31, 2021. Details, materials, and entry forms for retailers and industry partners to nominate farmers are available online at nutrientstewardship.org/advocates/become-an-advocate/. Entry forms offer easy directions for farmers and retailers to document their efforts to apply the 4R Nutrient Stewardship principles and to chart results. Applicants can also read previous winners’ stories on the same website.

The 2022 Advocates will spend the next year supporting TFI-sponsored 4R activities, as well as serve as 4R representatives within their businesses and communities during educational events and special presentations.

The 2022 4R Advocate winners will be announced in mid-December. They will participate in an all-expense-paid trip to the 2021 Commodity Classic, scheduled for March 10-12, 2022, in New Orleans, Louisiana. TFI will honor the 4R Advocate growers and nominating retailers during an awards banquet that takes place during the event.

To date, 100 4R Advocates from 25 states, representing nearly one-quarter million acres have been recognized. They grow crops that include apples, alfalfa, cabbage, collard greens, corn, cotton, hops, peanuts, rice, soybeans, strawberries, tomatoes, and more.

The 4R Advocate program is one of many facets of a high-priority campaign to raise awareness and adoption of 4R Nutrient Stewardship practices. Fertilizer is a key component of sustainable crop production systems, and the fertilizer industry recognizes the need to efficiently utilize these nutrients. 4R Advocates and other farmers have partnered with The Fertilizer Institute to demonstrate how 4R practices have led to cost-efficiencies and improved environmental outcomes on their fields. More information and data on their efforts is available at 4RFarming.org.

As 4R Nutrient Stewardship management practices grow in popularity among farmers, the industry has gained additional support for the practices from allied industry groups such as Certified Crop Advisors, Ducks Unlimited, Pheasants Forever, and The Nature Conservancy.

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The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) is the leading voice of the nation’s fertilizer industry. TFI’s membership includes fertilizer producers, wholesalers, retailers and trading firms. TFI serves its members through legislative, educational, technical and 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.

TFI Statement on EPA Phosphogypsum Decision

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) President and CEO Corey Rosenbusch released the following statement regarding the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) decision to withdraw approval for limited reuse of phosphogypsum (PG) in road construction.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) decision on June 30th to withdraw on procedural grounds its October 2020 approval of the limited use of phosphogypsum (PG) in road construction is disappointing and inconsistent with the Agency’s prior interpretation of its regulations. However, The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) agrees that EPA decisions should be based on, and adhere to, existing regulatory requirements. The responsible use of PG has been proven to be both sustainable and environmentally sound. TFI strongly urges the EPA to rely on sound science to amend its regulations to allow for the categorical use of PG as sought by TFI.
 
Importantly, the EPA withdrew the PG road base approval based solely on procedural grounds, and its withdrawal did not contradict TFI’s robust risk assessment in support of the use of PG in road construction. In fact, the decision to withdraw the categorical approval to use PG in road construction definitively left the window open for site specific projects to be considered for EPA approval based on the same scientific merits which focus on safe, sustainable use. We concur with EPA’s scientific evaluation and conclusion that the risk associated with the use of PG in road construction is no greater than stacking the material or placing it in mines. 
 
The International Atomic Energy Agency said it best when they concluded that, “[a]ll evidence suggests that the [radiation] doses received as a result of the use of phosphogypsum in agriculture, road construction, in the marine environment, and in landfill facilities are sufficiently low that no restrictions on such use are necessary.”
 
TFI will continue to work with the EPA and other stakeholders so that the United States can join with the numerous countries throughout South America, Asia, Europe, Africa, and Canada that permit the safe and environmentally conscious beneficial use of PG.

 

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The Fertilizer Institute (TFI)
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. Learn more about TFI’s nutrient stewardship initiatives at nutrientstewardship.org. 

Global Food Security – a Critical Issue

 

The following white paper was produced by the International Fertilizer Association:

 

What is food security? All people, at all times, have physical, social and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food that meets their food preferences and dietary needs for an active and healthy life (United Nation’s Committee on World Food Security). (www.ifpri.org/topic/food-security)

What is the state of food security? Even before the covid-19 pandemic, the most recently available estimates of the United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) published in 2019 indicated that nearly 690 million people, or 8.9 percent of the world population, were going hungry. Moderate or severe food insecurity rose between 2015 and 2019, affecting more than a quarter of the world population, women more often than men (http://www.fao.org/sdg-progress-report/en/).

A note on nutrition security, some 3 billion people cannot afford a basic healthy diet that contains all the essential nutrients for a healthy life.

What influences food security? Many factors go into food security – climate change and local weather conditions, agricultural policies, social customs, business models, access to market, technology and finance, post-harvest losses and more. Most fundamentally, it is the smallholder farms (some 90 percent of the world’s farms, according to the FAO) and the larger family enterprises that help feed a global population that is on track to reach 10 billion.

Farmers’ access to inputs such as fertilizers is vital for food security. There is a strong link between people’s nutrition and the amounts and types of minerals available in soil and plants. This is because plants are the primary source of nutrients for people and animals.

  • Ideally, farmers can access a variety of plant nutrition solutions tailored to their specific sites. Fertilizers may be organic (e.g., manure), mineral (either natural or manufactured, and often imported from other countries) or organo-mineral.
  • Fertilizers provide essential macro- and micronutrients to plants, which in turn are passed on to people when consumed:

    • Nitrogen. Nitrogen is an essential component of amino acids for building proteins, nucleic acids and chlorophyll which converts the sun’s energy into sugars. It is vital for plant metabolism, growth and health, which in turn benefits humans.
    • Phosphorus and plants. Phosphorous is vital for energy storage and transfer and membrane integrity in plants. Particularly important in early growth stages, it promotes tillering, root development, early flowering and ripening.
    • Phosphorus and people. Phosphorous is a component of bones, teeth, DNA and RNA. In the form of phospholipids, phosphorus is also a component of cell membrane structure and of the body’s key energy source, ATP.
    • Potash (potassium) and plants. Potassium has major functions in enzyme activation, transpiration and the transport of assimilates (the products of photosynthesis). It helps plants retain water during droughts, provides strength to plant cell walls and decreases susceptibility to diseases and insects.
    • Potash (potassium) and people. Potassium is vital for the proper functioning of cells, and muscles and nerves depend on it. Since potassium cannot be stored in the body, it must be continually replaced by foods rich in potassium.

For more information, see 19 Essential Ingredients for Improving and Protecting Plant Health, International Fertilizer Association (IFA)

When supplies are constrained not all remaining fertilizer producers can quickly scale up production and get inputs to distributors and farmers.

The production process for nitrogen-based fertilizers starts by pulling nitrogen from the air and reacting it with hydrogen to produce ammonia, with further steps leading to fertilizer products such as urea, ammonium nitrate and urea ammonium nitrate. As the nitrogen production process is energy-intensive, large volumes are produced in locations with access to hydrocarbon resources.

Phosphate and potash-based fertilizers are produced from mined ores. Mines can take months or longer to make changes in production, there is not always a quick way to bridge gaps in supply. It also takes several years to construct newbuild processing plants to upgrade the mined ores into finished fertilizer products. (Fertilizer Manual, 3rd edition).

All mineral fertilizer products have the potential to suffer supply disruptions. At the most local scale, markets with relatively few players such as potash can suffer disruptions as a result of a single mine or plant going out of operation or no longer having access to the market. In 2019, the top four potash exporters – Canada, Belarus, Russia and Israel – accounted for 85% of global trade volume (IFA: IFASTAT). Producer-level disruptions can occur as a result of technical issues, natural disasters, geopolitical tensions and other unforeseen factors.

In fertilizer markets with a larger number of players such as nitrogen and phosphate, events on a country and regional scale can still cause disruptions. In 2019, the top four urea exporters – Russia, Qatar, China and Egypt – accounted for 45% of global trade volume (IFA: IFASTAT). The top four exporting countries of DAP and MAP – China, Morocco, Saudi Arabia and the US – accounted for 79% of global trade (IFA: IFASTAT). Raw material supply interruptions, geopolitical conflict and trade barriers, among others, all have the potential to disrupt global trade and reduce the accessibility of fertilizers.

What can happen when farmers do not have access to inputs such as mineral fertilizers?

Farmers have to make choices and consider trade-offs every day. If mineral fertilizers are not physically available or no longer an economic option – either to use alone or in combination with other plant nutrients, and depending on what the plants, soils and local conditions need, and the time of year – the consequences can be serious for the farmers and society.

  • Farmers need an adequate supply of nutrients in both soil and plants to ensure soil fertility, good crop yields, healthier plants that can better withstand adverse weather conditions and disease and crops that have good nutritional value.
  • In part, food and nutrition security depends on better crop quality for human health and the health of livestock.
  • Farmers’ livelihoods can be precarious and vulnerable to disruptions to their productivity such as problems with inputs such as fertilizers and seeds. This is particularly important for smallholder farmers.

Governments across the globe designated fertilizer as an essential good in the early part of the Covid-19 pandemic, an indicator of its vital role in the agriculture value chain, and they should continue to do so.

  • The UN’s FAO reported in June 2021 that global food prices have risen for the past 12 months to reach the highest in almost a decade in May and freight costs have also increased.
  • FAO also reported that the cost of importing food is set to rise by 12 percent to $1.72 trillion globally led by increases in grains, vegetable oils and oil seeds.

Meet the 2021 4R Advocates

Each year, The Fertilizer Institute recognizes 4R Advocates, 5 pairs of retailers and farmers who are making 4R Nutrient Stewardship a priority in their operations. These partners get it, 4R Farming makes sense economically and environmentally. And that’s why TFI is highlighting their work. We invite you to learn more about them and how they incorporate the 4Rs into their businesses and operations.

 

Zack Brown Farms Defines Success With Top Yields 

Grower: Zack Brown, Zack Brown Farms, Success, AR
Advisor: James Varvil, Nutrien Ag Solutions, Corning, AR

Read More

 

Double J Farms — Cover Crop Champion

Grower: Myron Johnson, Double J Farms, Headland, AL
Advisor: Drew Schrimasher, GreenPoint Ag, Decatur, AL

Read More

 

For Simplot Grandview Farms, Potatoes Are Just the Beginning

Grower: Stephen Paget, Simplot Grandview Farms, Burbank, WA
Advisor: Jack Jensen, Simplot Grower Solutions, Pasco, WA

Read More

 

Precision Nutrient Application Produces Premium Wine

Grower: Brenda Wolgamott, The Wine Group, Rippon, CA
Advisor: Rebecca Kaupp, Helena Agri Enterprises, Salinas, CA

Read More

 

Sustainability is Key for Lamb Farms

Grower: Jeanette Veazey-Post, Lamb Farms, Inc., Oakfield, NY
Advisor: David DeGolyer, Western New York Crop Management Association, Warsaw, NY

Read More

Updates to Nutrient Use and Soil Test Summary Tools Help the Fertilizer Industry Better Understand Crop Nutrition Across the United States

WASHINGTON, April 14, 2021 – The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) today announced two new updates to crop nutrient use tools that provide the fertilizer industry and agronomic professionals with scientifically-backed data to better track nutrient use and nutrient balances across the United States.

“The fertilizer industry relies on accurate data to make strategic business decisions,” said Corey Rosenbusch, TFI President and CEO. “Using data from the NuGIS and Soil Test Summary platforms, TFI is uniquely positioned to collaborate with partners and soil testing labs to aggregate and analyze this information for our members and stakeholders.”

Working together, the Nutrient Use Geographic Information System (NuGIS) and the Soil Test Summary are an index of performance, both agronomic and environmental, indicating how well a cropping system uses crop nutrients. The two platforms can help provide an estimate of nutrient deficiencies and nutrients susceptible to loss, providing the fertilizer industry, farmers, and scientific stakeholders with insight into improving nutrient use efficiency and nutrient balance.

NuGIS provides county- and watershed-level estimates of nutrients applied to the soil from fertilizer and livestock manure, and nutrients removed by harvested agricultural crops. Nutrient application data comes from fertilizer sales data collected by the American Association of Plant Food Control Officials (AAPFCO) and USDA livestock sales, which are used to estimate manure application. Nutrient removal data is calculated using USDA annual yield data.

NuGIS is a unique data set showing nutrient use efficiency and the nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium balance in cropland across the nation. The tool’s maps and charts show distribution of nutrient concentrations, allowing for the determination of where nutrients are either being mined or building up in agricultural production fields.

The Soil Test Summary is an interactive tool for displaying aggregate soil nutrient levels from public and private soil test labs by state from June 2019 through July 2020.

Both NuGIS the Soil Test Summary are collaborations between TFI, the Foundation for Agronomic Research, and Plant Nutrition Canada. These two tools are part of a broader collection of agronomic materials made available to the fertilizer industry and the agronomic community by TFI. Additional resources include the Soil Fertility Manual, the 4R Plant Nutrition Manual, and the InfoAg Conference.

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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Next Gen Fertilizer Challenge Recipients Identified for Phase Two Trials

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Fertilizer Institute (TFI), along with the International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC), The Nature Conservancy, and the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA), announced the organizations and products selected for Phase two trials in the Next Gen Fertilizer Challenges.  Collectively, the challenges aim to accelerate the development of innovative fertilizer product technologies and to increase the use of existing enhanced efficiency fertilizers (EEFS) that maintain or increase crop yields and reduce environmental impacts to air, land, and water. The organizations partnered with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on the challenges. 

“For generations, we’ve seen how innovation has shaped modern U.S. agriculture into the most successful and efficient production system in the world,” said Corey Rosenbusch, TFI president and CEO. “This public-private partnership represents the next generation of fertilizer technologies that will produce results for farmers and the land. I am proud to see several TFI members selected here as   industry leaders in adopting and promoting these new technologies.” 

“Corn farmers have a vested interest in using new technology that improves their operations and minimizes their environmental impact,” said NCGA President John Linder. “We are pleased to be a part of these Challenges and to work with these partners to promote sustainable farming practices that build up soil health, allowing farmers to improve productivity and profitability while also preserving natural resources for future generations.” 

The first of two Next Gen Fertilizer Challenges, EEFs: Agronomic and Environmental Challenge, aims to identify existing EEFs currently on or near-market that meet or exceed certain environmental and agro-economic criteria. Phase one included review and selection of product nominations by an expert judging panel. Phase two, to be initiated this spring, will include greenhouse trial evaluations of the winning products by researchers at IFDC. The products will be evaluated based on environmental, agronomic, and economic performance factors. 

“I am pleased to see the Next Gen Fertilizer Challenge bridging the gap between good ideas and their implementation,” said Albin Hubscher, IFDC president and CEO. “Strategic partnerships such as this will continue to catalyze innovation in improving global soil health and closing the yield gap. IFDC anticipates exciting results from our evaluations of these products.” 

Fertilizers facilitate the growth of crops at yields that provide sustained global food production. However, nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers applied without consideration of the principles of 4R Nutrient Stewardship (source, rate, time, and place) can have harmful economic, environmental, and social effects. EEFs and other new product technologies and formulations control fertilizer release or alter reactions to increase nutrient uptake by the plant and reduce nutrient losses to the environment. These technologies can be an important addition to a conservation practice system that helps reduce row crop agriculture impacts on the environment, while maintaining or increasing agricultural productivity and profitability. 

“The Nature Conservancy is excited to be part of the Next Gen Fertilizer Challenges as a way to drive new innovations that will help farmers better understand which enhanced efficiency fertilizers may work best on their farm,” said Carrie Vollmer-Sanders, director of strategic engagement for agriculture, The Nature Conservancy in North America. “We are strong advocates of the 4R approach to nutrient management and believe that the EPA and USDA’s science-based approach to the challenge will help farmers implement the 4Rs on their cropland.” 

The winners include (listed by company and product name): 

  • AgroLiquid: Pro-Germinator 
  • CHS Agronomy: Trivar 
  • Corteva Agriscience: Optinyte 
  • EuroChem Agro: ENTEC
  • Harrell’s: POLYON 
  • Koch Agronomic Services: CENTURO 
  • Koch Agronomic Services: SUPERU 
  • MicroSource: Hi-Test 
  • Nutrien: ESN 
  • Pursell Agri-Tech:  PurYield 
  • Renuvix: Renuvix CRFs 
  • SABIC: BCRU 
  • The Andersons: Struvite DG 
  • Timac Agro USA: Duo Maxx 
  • Timac Agro USA: Top-Phos 
  • Verdesian Life Sciences: AVAIL 

The second component of the Next Gen Fertilizer Innovation Challenge will identify novel pre-market technologies for fertilizers that can reduce the environmental effects from modern agriculture while maintaining or increasing crop yields. Winners are expected to be announced in spring 2021. 

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

Founded in 1957, the National Corn Growers Association represents nearly 40,000 dues-paying corn farmers nationwide and the interests of more than 300,000 growers who contribute through corn checkoff programs in their states. NCGA and its 50 affiliated state organizations work together to create and increase opportunities for corn growers. 

An independent non-profit organization, IFDC is active in 20 countries in Africa, Asia, and America. Combining science-backed innovations, an enabling policy environment, holistic market systems development, and strategic partnerships, the organization bridges the gap between identifying and scaling sustainable soil solutions, resulting in improved household food security and enriched family livelihoods around the world. Using an inclusive approach, IFDC employs locally driven, environmentally sound, and impact-oriented solutions that bring change at local, regional, and national levels. 

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