Category: Transportation

TFI Releases 2021 Policy Priorities

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) today released its list of 2021 public policy priorities for working with the Biden Administration, as well as a closely divided 117th Congress.

“Our number one goal is to ensure the fertilizer industry is able to continue feeding the world sustainably within a legislative and regulatory environment that allows for industry growth and innovation,” said TFI President & CEO Corey Rosenbusch. “The policy priorities identified and approved by our members illustrate the industry’s focus on the safety and security of employees and the communities in which they operate, a commitment to environmental stewardship, and the efficient use of energy.” 

TFI’s priorities are broken down into six key areas: safety and security; energy and economic growth; environment; innovation; trade; and transportation and infrastructure.

“While safety and security are always the number one priority for our members, the environment is also at the top of the list. Specifically, the important role that the fertilizer supply chain plays in being part of the solution to address the many challenges of a changing climate,” Rosenbusch continued. “The fertilizer industry is essential to our modern way of life and our members have made minimizing the environmental impact of crop nutrients a key pillar of how they operate. We want to see that reflected in public policy. It is absolutely critical that any climate change policies or initiatives must not impact our ability to provide farmers with the crop nutrients they need.”

Rosenbusch says that some of that is offense and some of that is defense. An example of offense is TFI’s work to promote the important role agricultural retailers have in providing agronomic assistance and expertise to farmers looking to implement   sustainable fertilizer practices such as the 4Rs, which is utilizing the right source of fertilizer, at the right rate, at the right time and in the right place. “The 4Rs are a scientifically proven method of getting maximum crop yield while significantly reducing environmental impacts, such as run-off, and any state nutrient loss reduction plan must include the 4Rs as a backbone to handling crop nutrients.” Agricultural retailers are also well-positioned to assist their farmer customers interested in participating in voluntary, market-based carbon markets that incentivize the implementation of fertilizer best management practices on the farm which are proven to help sequester carbon in the soil. 

On defense, Rosenbusch says it is mostly about the unintended consequences of policies. “On the issue of greenhouse gas emissions, U.S. production of nitrogen fertilizers is both energy-intensive and trade exposed. We need to make sure that policies are not put into place that send production to areas of the world that do not use more efficient production methods and lack the same type of environmental protections we have in the U.S. Greenhouse gas emissions are a global issue and discouraging efficient production in the U.S. in favor of a dirtier process overseas actually harms the environment more than it helps.”

Tony Will, Chairman of the TFI Board of Directors and President & CEO of CF Industries, Inc., added, “The fertilizer industry in the United States is proud of its legacy of ensuring the food security for our fellow citizens and for the world in a sustainable manner. Our public policy priorities are a roadmap to build on these contributions and to help address the challenges before us, particularly for the environment. We look forward to working with the Biden administration and Congress on solutions that advance our shared commitment to a better and healthier world.”

While TFI will be heavily focused on environmental policy, the issues of trade, infrastructure and safety & security all are critical to the industry, as well. “TFI supported the USMCA and are hopeful that the Biden Administration will be seeking to update existing and creating new trade agreements that promote open markets and fair competition,” Rosenbusch continued. “Trade is incredibly important specifically to our industry, but also to our grower customers that are quite literally feeding the world and need fair access to new and expanded markets.”

Infrastructure 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. When the optimal window opens   it has to happen, and the industry must  be ready and ensure the materials are all in place,” explained Rosenbusch. “Bottlenecks due to road or bridge closures or delays because of crumbling locks and dams have the potential to be devastating to applying crop nutrients when they are most needed for healthy growth and strong yields.”

TFI will use its member-driven public policy priorities to educate policymakers on the realities of an essential industry that is responsible for half of all food grown around the world. “Our industry is vital to ensuring our farmers can enrich the soil and grow the crops that feed the world and its growing population,” Rosenbusch concluded. “We look forward to working with the Biden Administration and the new Congress.”

TFI’s full list of 2021 public policy priorities 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 House Passage of WRDA Bill

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) President and CEO Corey Rosenbusch today praised the U.S. House of Representatives for passing the Water Resources Development Act of 2020 (WRDA).

TFI extends a special thanks to Chairman DeFazio and Ranking Member Graves for their work on this bipartisan legislation. “Our nation’s transportation infrastructure is critical to agriculture and rural America’s competitive advantage in world markets, and WRDA provides vital support for that network,” said Rosenbusch. “WRDA is the foundation for the modernization of our nation’s inland waterways and ports, which are an integral component of the fertilizer distribution system.”

TFI is especially pleased with the inclusion of a key modification to the cost-share for inland waterways projects. “The cost-share change should steer more funding toward inland waterway projects,” Rosenbusch continued. “On a ton-mile basis, approximately one-third of fertilizer moves on the inland barge system and these projects are absolutely critical to the safe and efficient distribution of fertilizers.”

Highlighting the importance of WRDA and the need for modernizing the country’s aging water infrastructure, Rosenbusch noted the 700 percent increase in unscheduled work stoppages for repairs of locks and dams built nearly a hundred years ago but designed only to last 50 years. “These delays are not only disastrous for the farmers who receive much of the almost 70 million tons of fertilizer each year via our nation’s waterways, they can also raise the prices of everyday goods and food for consumers. The WRDA bill passed by the House today is a step in the right direction and I urge the Senate to take action and quickly pass a WRDA bill.”

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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 Demurrage Decisions

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) today applauded yesterday’s decision by the Surface Transportation Board (STB) regarding rules and changes related to demurrage and accessorial charges levied against shippers.

“TFI is pleased with the Board’s actions,” said TFI President and CEO Corey Rosenbusch. “Over half of all fertilizer moves by rail, so these decisions are great news for the fertilizer industry, its customers, and the rail carriers we depend upon. The Board’s balanced decisions will clarify expectations and minimize governmental intrusion into the rail marketplace.”

Yesterday, the Board issued three decisions related to demurrage charges, including; (1) a final policy statement articulating the factors it will use to determine the reasonableness of demurrage charges; (2) a final rule regarding shipper-warehouse demurrage responsibility, and; (3) a supplemental proposed rulemaking regarding minimum information requirements for demurrage invoices.

“These changes will help to improve fairness, service and system fluidity,” Rosenbusch concluded. “We also thank the Board for continuing its critical oversight functions and efforts to modernize its oversight during the COVID-19 pandemic.”

TFI Wins HOS Exemption for Fertilizer

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.

TFI Leads Ag Coalition in Urging States to Use CISA Guidance to Ensure Food and Agriculture are Deemed Essential

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.

TFI Urges States to Use CISA Guidance in Designating Fertilizer an Essential Industry

large truck on dirt road

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.

 

TFI Urges White House to Designate Fertilizer as Essential

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a letter sent to President Donald Trump on Wednesday, The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) President and CEO Corey Rosenbusch requested that the federal government recognize fertilizer and all agriculture inputs as “essential services” in order to ensure that American agriculture can remain operable and unfettered. 

“The next six to eight weeks will be crucial to our members and their 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,” Rosenbusch said. “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. In addition, the ability to move products across the border of Canada is also an important part of the fertilizer supply chain.”

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.

“Fertilizer is responsible for 50 percent of crop yields. It is essential to our nation’s agricultural production and food supply,” Rosenbusch continued. “Our members are taking steps to remain fully operational throughout the duration of this event while taking necessary precautions to protect the health and safety of our employees and the communities in which they operate.”

The full letter can be read by clicking here.

TFI Applauds DHS Move to Designate Fertilizer Industry as Essential

team meeting in crop field

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.

 

The State of Fertilizer Sustainability

In the past few months, we’ve seen the business community make some major announcements regarding their role in combating large societal challenges. Larry Fink, CEO of the investment firm BlackRock, acknowledged that climate change is “driving a profound reassessment of risk,” and therefore they plan to realign a significant portion of their capital to match their investors’ values.

Energy giant BP announced last week that they seek to achieve net zero emissions by 2050 on not just their operations, but also on the upstream use of their products.

Now, these two companies (and several others like them) might not be who most of us turn toward to solve environmental challenges. Historically, that has fallen to NGOs, government, and academia. However, we live in a changing world that’s being turned on its head.

In January, the public relations firm Edelman released the 2020 Edelman Trust Barometer, which tracks the trends that influence and reflect people’s trust in the four major societal institutions: government, business, media and NGOs. This year’s report revealed that none of these four institutions is trusted by the public, which stems from our fear of the future and the role these institutions play in it.

It’s a wake-up call that maybe BlackRock and BP are listening to and one TFI is heeding as well.

Last month, TFI released it’s fifth State of the Fertilizer Industry Report – or unofficially the industry’s sustainability report. The report has been tracking industry performance on various environmental, social, and economic indicators for five years. And I’m pleased to say the industry is making progress!

Some of the highlights include:

  • The industry is more than twice as safe as industry peers when compared to benchmark data from the Department of Labor.
  • The fertilizer industry delivers more than $130 billion in economic impact in the United States.
  • Total energy use per nutrient ton of fertilizer produced decreased 3 percent from the prior year.
  • The industry captured more than 4.5 times the greenhouse gas emissions that were captured in 2013. These captured emissions were then used for other industrial purposes.
  • Nitrogen producers are using half the amount of water per nutrient ton produced than they did in 2013.

The report showcases data on all segments of the fertilizer industry from fertilizer use on the farm, the impact on people and communities, energy and environment, and transportation. For the first time this year, TFI is able to report that nearly 6 million tons of recycled materials were used in the production fertilizer.

And while the report contains more data, there’s still much work to be done to make progress on these metrics. Last year, TFI’s Board of Directors approved a new organization strategic plan. And in a sign that this industry also “gets it,” one of the three pillars of the plan is a commitment to the environment.

The board identified their commitment to reducing the environmental footprint of the production and use of fertilizer. And building on the successes highlighted through five years of reporting, the industry will continue to invest in more efficient production facilities that use less water and energy while emitting fewer GHGs.

On the use side, the industry continues to expand the reach of the 4R Nutrient Stewardship initiative. This past year the state of Florida implemented the 4R Certification program, which certifies fertilizer retailers and crop consultants – those who apply or make fertilizer recommendations – are following business practices in accordance with 4R Nutrient Stewardship principles. Similar efforts are underway in a number of other states. All of which helps to significantly reduce and prevent fertilizer from running off fields into the water supply.

The TFI staff have also been working diligently over the past several years to quantify the benefits of 4R practice implementation on the farm. And I’m excited to say that we’re making progress on this front as well. We know that cost is an important consideration for farmers when thinking about any practice change. To answer these questions, we have developed a host of case studies showcasing how farmers across the United States have seen costs go down, yield go up, and environmental impact lessened through using 4R-based practices. You can learn more at 4Rfarming.org.

The fertilizer industry employs more than 103,000 people in the United States. To capture their work and impact, the State of the Industry Report features interviews with employees across the value chain, including those who partner with the industry on research and stewardship initiatives. Take a listen and hear from the industry in their own voice.

Please head to the TFI website at fertilizerreport.org to learn all about how the fertilizer industry is contributing to a more sustainable future.

The Fertilizer Institute’s 5th State of the Fertilizer Industry Report Highlights Improvement in Environmental Impact, Safety, and On-Farm Fertilizer Use

WASHINGTON, Feb. 18, 2020 – The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) today released its fifth State of the Fertilizer Industry Report. The report tracks social, environmental, and economic metrics across the entire value chain to identify industry progress and mark areas for improvement. Since 2013, the industry has made significant improvements in water use, greenhouse gas emissions, and research on and adoption of 4R Nutrient Stewardship practices.

“The business community is making sustainability a priority, and the fertilizer industry is no different,” said Corey Rosenbusch, TFI President and CEO. “As TFI marks five years of collecting sustainability data, I am excited to be able to look back at the accomplishments we’ve made while also charting a path to where we want to be in the next five years and beyond.”

This year’s report includes data representing 34 companies in the manufacturing, retail, and wholesaler and distributor space. The data represents 91 percent of manufacturing capacity and 32 percent of the retail industry in the United States. Report highlights include:

  • The industry is more than twice as safe as industry peers when compared to benchmark data from the Department of Labor.
  • The fertilizer industry delivers more than $130 billion in economic impact in the United States.
  • Total energy use per nutrient ton of fertilizer produced decreased 3 percent from the prior year.
  • In 2018, the industry captured more than 4.5 times the greenhouse gas emissions that were captured in 2013. These captured emissions were then used for other industrial purposes.
  • Nitrogen producers are using half the amount of water per nutrient ton produced than they did in 2013.

The report showcases data on all segments of the fertilizer industry from fertilizer use on the farm, the impact on people and communities, energy and environment, and transportation. For the first time this year, TFI is able to report that nearly 6 million tons of recycled materials were used in the production fertilizer.

The fertilizer industry employs more than 103,000 people in the United States. To capture their work and impact, the State of the Industry Report features interviews with employees across the value chain, including those who partner with the industry on research and stewardship initiatives.

To learn more about this year’s State of the Fertilizer Industry report, visit fertilizerreport.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.