News Type: TFI News

Rethinking the Future of Fertilizer

For more than 100 years, the fertilizer industry – and agriculture at large – has benefited off the work of science and technology. Starting in 1918, with the Haber Bosch process, which made the production of ammonia fertilizer economically feasible. Since then, the industry has kept refining not just how fertilizers are made, but how they are used by plants.

It’s this later work that I think about when I think of the future of fertilizer. Agriculture faces challenges, that while not new to the conversation today, they are vitally important to the future of our industry and the planet. Whether it’s finding sustainable ways to feed a growing global population or responding to environmental concerns at local levels, we will need to think creatively about fertilizer going forward.

Fertilizers are one tool farmers can’t do without. They help replenish the soil after each cropping season and allow for the growth of crops at yields that provide sustained global food production. However, nitrogen and phosphorus applied without consideration of 4R principles can lead to nutrient losses impacting both air and water quality. Enhanced efficiency fertilizers (EEFs) and other new product technologies and formulations can increase a plant’s ability to use fertilizers and help keep fertilizer in the plant’s root zone – both of which reduce nutrient loss. In a farm’s conservation system, these products can reduce agriculture’s impacts on the environment while maintaining or increasing productivity and profitability. And for many in the food supply chain, these products can be an important element for reaching sustainability goals that focus on improving water quality and mitigating climate change.

There has been much development to make sure that fertilizer stays in the soil in a form that is readily available for plant uptake. Whether that is through the use of 4R Nutrient Stewardship, EEFs, biostimulants, or any number of new technologies on the horizon, the fertilizer industry has always looked for solutions. And we’re now presented with a new opportunity for the next generation of commercial fertilizers.

This summer, TFI partnered with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in the NextGen Fertilizer Challenges, which aims to accelerate the development of innovative fertilizer product technologies and to increase the use of EEFs that maintain or increase crop yields and reduce environmental impacts to air, land, and water.

Public-private partnerships, such as this one, are key to improving the registration process for new fertilizers and increasing farmers’ access to new technologies that provide needed agronomic benefit. The NextGen fertilizer challenge will further stimulate innovation and increase on-farm adoption of effective fertilizer product technologies.

Additionally, the development of new enhanced efficiency and NextGen fertilizers can impact farmers’ bottom lines. When farmers use EEFs and other products as part of their 4R Nutrient Stewardship management, they have the opportunity to increase yields, decrease costs, and reduce environmental losses. 4R practices are based on applying the right source of fertilizer at the right rate, the right time, and in the right place. Getting the 4Rs right means increasing nutrient uptake by the crop to improve farmer ROI and crop productivity. And, reducing losses to the environment means improved water quality and reduced ammonia and greenhouse gas emissions. 

Through the 4R Farming initiative, we are seeing evidence of this through on-farm data. I have two examples to share here, but more data is available at 4Rfarming.org.

From 2014 to 2017, a corn farmer in Illinois went from using basic 4R principles to an advanced strategy that incorporated variable rate fertilizer applications throughout the growing season, using enhanced efficiency fertilizers, and other 4R practices. By 2017, his yields had increased, nutrient use efficiency had improved, and impressively, he saw a 34 percent reduction in CO2 emissions coming from his fields.

A Virginia corn farmer, whose farm backs right up to the Rappahanock River, has been practicing the 4Rs for many years. He’s incorporated many advanced practices in conjunction with conservation and the use of enhanced efficiency fertilizers. On the fields where he has implemented an advanced 4R strategy, he saw a 14 percent CO2 emissions reduction, all while his cost per acre decreased.

While we can’t solely attribute these improvements to the use of EEFs and other fertilizer technologies, we are seeing that their use as part of a broader 4R management strategy is yielding results for farmers and the environment across the country.

The NextGen Fertilizer Challenges will further stimulate innovation and increase on-farm adoption of these effective fertilizer product technologies. Details about the challenges are available on the EPA website and winners will be announced in December 2020 for the existing EEFs challenge and February 2020 for the Next Gen Fertilizer Innovation challenge.

  • EEFs: Environmental and Agronomic Challenge: This challenge aims to identify existing EEFs currently on or near-market that meet or exceed certain environmental and agro-economic criteria. Submissions are due October 30, 2020.
  • Next Gen Fertilizer Innovations Challenge: This challenge aims to identify concepts for novel technologies for fertilizers that can reduce the environmental effects from modern agriculture while maintaining or increasing crop yields. Submissions to the Next Gen Fertilizer Innovations Challenge are not near-market and may include EEFs and other product technologies used with or in combination with commercial fertilizers. Submissions are due November 30, 2020.

TFI and our members are excited to be part of these future solutions for the American farmer and the environment.  

The Fertilizer Institute Funds Research on 4R Practice Implementation in the Northern Great Plains

WASHINGTON, Sept. 16, 2020 – The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) today announced $800,000 in new funding through the 4R Research Fund for a research project led by University of Minnesota to evaluate and adapt the 4R Nutrient Stewardship concept for sustainable nutrient management in the Red River Basin.

“One of the basic tenants of the 4R Nutrient Stewardship initiative is that it is not a one size fits all approach, and that’s why geography-specific research, such as this project, is so vital,” said Corey Rosenbusch, TFI President and CEO. “The fertilizer industry’s commitment to the 4R Research Fund is a critical component in our efforts to improve sustainable plant nutrition.”

The Red River Basin of the North is currently adapting to new demands in response to increased grain production and increased nutrient loads in the region’s freshwater lakes. Defining and adopting 4R Nutrient Stewardship and edge-of-field practices for this cold weather climate across the region is critical to reducing the extent and severity of nutrient runoff losses from agricultural land to Lake Winnipeg in Canada.

The international border separating the source of the nutrients from the area of impact has increased pressure on farmers to adopt strategies to reduce nutrient runoff. Previous research in the Western Lake Erie Basin has shown that adopting a 4R framework can help meet nutrient load reduction goals. This project, a public-private partnership, will evaluate the 4R Nutrient Stewardship concept and amend it for implementation in the shifting cropping systems and cold climate of the Red River Basin.

“We are excited to adapt the 4R Nutrient Stewardship concept for this critical, but often overlooked, North American watershed,” said Dr. Lindsay Pease, assistant professor at the University of Minnesota and lead project investigator. “This cross-border, multi-institutional project will allow us to work alongside growers in developing practical phosphorus management solutions that protect both the long-term sustainability of agriculture and our shared water resources.”

The project will also develop outreach programming and resources to communicate research findings and engage stakeholders to support the 4R Nutrient Stewardship Certification Program in the region.

In addition to the 4R Research Fund grant, $1.2 million has been leveraged in matching funds and infrastructure. The University of Minnesota will work with partners in the United States and Canada, including the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Manitoba Department of Agriculture, the University of Manitoba, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, Minnesota Agricultural Water Resources Center, Sand County Foundation, The Nature Conservancy, North Dakota State University, and the University of Waterloo.

The Fertilizer Institute, in cooperation with Fertilizer Canada, established the 4R Research Fund through the Foundation for Agronomic Research in 2013 to address U.S. and Canadian knowledge gaps in nutrient management. Since then, in the Untied States, the industry has invested $9.2 million into projects while leveraging $10 million in other funding to support 4R research. More information is available at 4Rresearch.org.

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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 Announces International Governing Body for 4R Nutrient Stewardship Certification Program

WASHINGTON, September 3, 2020 – The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) announced the formation of an international governing body for the 4R Nutrient Stewardship Certification Program – the Global Nutrient Stewardship Certification Council (NSCC). The NSCC is composed of representatives from The Fertilizer Institute, Fertilizer Canada, and The Nature Conservancy, who will guide interested parties in the implementation of a 4R Certification program in their region.

“The fertilizer industry recognizes the environmental challenges its products pose; however, we want to be part of the solution,” said Corey Rosenbusch, TFI President and CEO. “Fertilizer applications on millions of acres of farmland around the United States are under the management of highly-trained professionals who make 4R recommendations to farmers every day. The 4R Nutrient Stewardship Certification Program is a way to ensure the industry continues to meet and exceed standards that help protect the environment.”

The voluntary 4R Certification Program is an effort by the North American agriculture industry to significantly reduce and prevent fertilizer from running off fields into the water supply. The program certifies fertilizer retailers and crop consultants – those who apply or make fertilizer recommendations – are following business practices in accordance with 4R Nutrient Stewardship principles. 4R practices incorporate using the right fertilizer source at the right rate, at the right time, and in the right place. Program participants must go through annual, independent, third-party audits, which demonstrate their understanding, following and recommendation and implementation of 4R principles with their grower customer.

The 4R Nutrient Stewardship Certification program was initially launched in the Western Lake Erie Basin in 2014 as a partnership between TFI, The Nature Conservancy, and the Ohio Agribusiness Association. A year later, Fertilizer Canada led the development a certification program for Ontario agribusiness. Programs are currently available in Florida, New York, and Ohio in the United States and in Ontario and Prince Edward Island in Canada. Other geographies working to implement the program are Indiana, Minnesota, and Missouri.

“Fertilizer Canada and TFI have worked together to develop a robust science-based certification program that recognizes the climate smart agricultural practices of North American agri retailers,” said Garth Whyte, President and CEO at Fertilizer Canada. “The Certification program further demonstrates our commitment to balancing farmer, industry, and advocacy goals to improve on-farm economics, crop productivity and fertilizer efficiency, while also being leaders in sustainable agriculture.”

An early champion of the 4R Nutrient Certification Program, The Nature Conservancy views the effort as an essential component of its Sustainable Agriculture strategy for North America. “The 4R framework is a proven, science-based approach that works for the farmer and for nature,” said Carrie Vollmer-Sanders, strategic engagement director for The Nature Conservancy in North America. “It helps farmers and agribusinesses ensure the long-term sustainability of crop production, while also protecting lands and waters for future generations.”

With a recently signed Memorandum of Understanding, the geographies recognize TFI as the global administrative agent for the 4R Certification Program and the Global NSCC and manager of the program in the United States. Fertilizer Canada develops and administers the 4R certification program for interested provinces. Coordination within the NSCC will create consistency amongst geographies, maintain program rigor, and ensure core auditable requirements are represented in each geographies’ standards. The Global NSCC will also provide guidance to new entities interested in developing programs in their geographies.

The NSCC also announced a newly redesigned 4Rcertified.org, which will serve as a central hub of information for interested geographies and retailers, current program participants, legislators, regulators, and the general public. The website includes information on the 4R Certification Program, as well as geography-specific resources and statistics.

Those interested in implementing the 4R Certification program in their geography should contact The Fertilizer Institute in the United States and Fertilizer Canada in Canada to assist in developing a program plan.

The 4R Nutrient Stewardship Certification Program is governed and guided by the Global Nutrient Stewardship Certification Council – representatives from program geographies, The Fertilizer Institute, The Nature Conservancy, and Fertilizer Canada. The Global NSCC creates consistency among member geographies, maintains program rigor and ensures core auditable requirements are represented in each geographies’ standards. The 4R Certification Program is administered by The Fertilizer Institute. For more information, visit 4Rcertified.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.

The Fertilizer Institute Partners with EPA, USDA to Advance Next Generation Fertilizer Development and Use

WASHINGTON, Aug. 26, 2020 – Today, The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) joined with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in launching the Next Gen Fertilizer Challenges, which aims 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.

“Today’s fertilizer industry is built upon decades of innovation that have led us to a modern and efficient supply chain that has helped farmers increase yields while fine tuning their fertilizer use,” said Corey Rosenbusch, TFI President and CEO. “However, there is always improvement to be made, which is why we are excited to partner with the federal government and others in this challenge to spur the industry’s creativity in finding sustainable solutions for tomorrow’s fertilizer industry.”

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 effects on environment and human health. EEF and other new product technologies and formulations control fertilizer release or alter reactions that can increase nutrient uptake by the plant and reduce nutrient losses to the environment. EEFs and other related 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 EEF Partnership and Competition includes two challenges. The EEFs: Environmental and Agronomic Challenge and the Next Gen Fertilizer Innovation Challenge. Submission details are available on the EPA website and winners will be announced in December 2020 (Existing EEFs) and February 2020 (Next Gen Fertilizer Innovation).

  • EEFs: Environmental and Agronomic Challenge: This challenge aims to identify existing EEFs currently on or near-market that meet or exceed certain environmental and agro-economic criteria. Submissions are due October 30, 2020.
  • Next Gen Fertilizer Innovations Challenge: This challenge aims to identify concepts for novel technologies for fertilizers that can reduce the environmental effects from modern agriculture while maintaining or increasing crop yields. Submissions to the Next Gen Fertilizer Innovations Challenge are not near-market and may include EEFs and other product technologies used with or in combination with commercial fertilizers. Submissions are due November 30, 2020.

Winners of the EEFs: Environmental and Agronomic Challenge will receive scientific evaluation and recognition from EPA, USDA, and other partners and participants; advancement to a greenhouse trial; and, pending greenhouse trial results and available funds, advancement to field trials.

Winners of the Next Gen Fertilizer Innovations Challenge will receive a minimum award of $10,000 per winner from a total prize purse of $40,000 and be invited to a showcasing event, where winners of both challenges will share ideas and spark innovation.

An informational webinar is scheduled for September 24, 2020. Registration details are available on the EPA website.

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.

The Fertilizer Institute’s 4R Advocate Program Celebrates 10th Anniversary, Now Accepting 2021 4R Advocate Nominations

WASHINGTON, Aug. 5, 2020 –The Fertilizer Institute’s (TFI) 4R Advocate program is celebrating its 10th anniversary starting with the acceptance of nominations for the 2021 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. Using 4R practices most applicable to their operations, farmers improve return on their nutrient inputs and decrease environmental impact.

To date, 90 4R Advocates from 22 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.

Advocate nominations are due no later than Friday, October 30, 2020. 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.

“Fertilizer retailers have long been trusted advisers for farmers. In doing so, they help farmers implement the 4Rs in their businesses year-round,” said Lara Moody, TFI’s Vice President, Stewardship and Sustainability. “From soil testing to pre-plant nutrient planning and in-season nutrient management and harvest, retailers work side by side with farmers to ensure optimal yields, economic return, and sound environmental practices.”

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.

The 2021 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 4 through 6, in San Antonio, Texas. TFI will honor the 4R Advocate growers and nominating retailers during an awards banquet that takes place during the event. Special guests, media, and previous 4R Advocate award winners will also be invited.

As with 4R Advocates before them, the 2021 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.

Raising awareness and adoption of 4R Nutrient Stewardship is a top priority for the fertilizer industry. The industry builds 4R awareness among growers and agricultural stakeholders at agricultural trade shows, field days, company visits, and other outreach opportunities.

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.

NEPA Updates? TFI Says, “Yes, Please”

WASHINGTON, July 15, 2020 – The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) today applauded the finalization of updates to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), as the revisions will ensure federal regulations continue to protect the environment without causing unnecessary negative impact to the business community.

“NEPA has not been updated in 40 years, and TFI has been supportive of these long overdue changes that improve efficiency of the permitting process and ensure continued environmental protection,” said TFI President & CEO Corey Rosenbusch. “Our industry is focused on providing crop nutrients in a way that ensures farmer profitability and minimizes environmental impact so that we can feed a growing world. To do that we also need to grow, and we need the stability and certainty of a regulatory framework that allows us to do so.”

Phosphorous and potassium, two of the three primary plant nutrients, are natural resources derived from mined minerals. Permits to mine these minerals on both private and public lands can take many years to obtain. One of the primary permitting challenges is the uneven application of the provisions of NEPA by states and the federal government. These NEPA updates will add needed clarity to this process and facilitate a more timely and efficient permitting process. 

Over the past 50 years, these regulations have evolved into a legal framework that has unnecessarily stalled or prevented critical phosphate and potash mining projects in the United States. These process-based delay tactics do not reflect environmental impacts and only serve to increase project costs and permitting delays.

“Many of our members have been negatively impacted by outdated NEPA guidelines,” Rosenbusch confirmed. “One producer, whose story is not unique, has spent the last decade and $20 million dollars in pursuit of a permit to grow jobs and instill economic prosperity in a community still reeling from economic stagnation, only to remain unsure of its ultimate fate.

“TFI believes in the original Congressional intent of NEPA, which was to help public officials make decision that are based on the understanding of environmental consequences and to take actions that protect, restore, and enhance the environment,” Rosenbusch concluded. “These revisions will ensure that federal regulations continue to protect the environment without causing unnecessary negative impacts to the business community and allowing what our members to do what they do best: feed the world.”

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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.

CFATS Program Extension Is Great News for Fertilizer Industry

Bipartisanship does still exist, though often in short supply these days. Earlier this month, the Senate cleared a bipartisan three-year extension (S. 4096) of the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) program. If it becomes law, S. 4096 will extend the current CFATS program through July 27, 2023. The House appears poised to pass this legislation when it returns for legislative work the week of July 20, clearing the way for the President’s signature.

In true compromise fashion, no one is getting exactly what they want, including The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) and its coalition partners who were seeking an extension or bipartisan reauthorization of at least five years. Nevertheless, provided it becomes law, this is great news as it provides industry with much-need certainty for the next three years. Given the challenges facing us related to the COVID-19 pandemic, stability for the CFATS program is most welcome.

The CFATS program, which is administered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), regulates the security of facilities that store or handle threshold quantities of more than 300 chemicals. Included in that list are a few fertilizers, including ammonia, ammonium nitrate, sodium nitrate and potassium nitrate. Hundreds of fertilizer industry facilities are regulated by the program. TFI and its members support the program because it provides a good framework to ensure chemical facilities take the appropriate steps necessary to protect themselves from potential security and terrorist threats.

The safe and secure handling of fertilizers is a high priority for TFI and its members. TFI and many of our members actively participate in and sponsor numerous safety initiatives, including ResponsibleAg, TRANSCAER, the National Agronomic Environmental Health and Safety School, and the Advanced Tank Car Collaborative Research Program.

ResponsibleAg — which is a joint effort between TFI and the Agricultural Retailers Association — exists to enhance compliance by agricultural retailers with a variety of federal safety, security, environmental and transportation regulations, including those administered DHS, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Transportation (DOT). To date, over 3,400 audits have been completed and over 1,300 facilities have been certified by the ResponsibleAg program.

The Fertilizer Institute thanks Chairman Ron Johnson (R-WI), Ranking Member Gary Peters (D-MI) and Sens. Capito (R-WV), Lankford (R-OK), Inhofe (R-OK), and Carper (D-DE) for their bipartisan work on S. 4096. TFI also thanks their counterparts in the House, including Chairman Bennie Thompson (D-MS) and Ranking Member Mike Rogers (R-AL) and Chairman Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Ranking Member Greg Walden (R-OR) for their support for advancing the three-year compromise.

 

Assumptions About Water Quality

Sometime in my youth, I learned about the wordplay that illustrates the danger of making assumptions. For the uninitiated, lets just say that the end-result turns the “assumer,” into the first three letters of the word. So, I try not to make assumptions – at least, not about important stuff. Things like cars stopping for pedestrians in crosswalks, strange dogs not biting – you get the picture. 

Still, not all assumptions are dangerous – in fact, some, such as those involved in scientific inquiry are downright necessary. From the simplest of science textbook experiments, to the work behind blockbuster medical breakthroughs, all science is based upon educated assumptions reached though observation, exploration, and testing. 

“Leveraging TFI’s new science resources, and  in-house scientific expertise, we examined the methods and assumptions within the EWG report and found that they contained significant discrepancies with published reports, peer-reviewed articles, and TFI’s Nutrient Use Geographic Information System (NuGIS) and Soil Test Summary programs.”

However, when the assumptions being made are about fertilizer and are inconsistent or just plain wrong, The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) will cry “foul.” Such is the case with a report that was recently released with great fanfare by the Environmental Working Group (EWG). The headline was hard to miss: “MANURE OVERLOAD: Manure Plus Fertilizer Overwhelms Minnesota’s Land and Water.” In its press release, EWG claimed that in almost all of Minnesota’s farm counties, “the combination of manure plus commercial fertilizer is likely to load too much nitrogen or phosphorus or both onto crop fields, threatening drinking water and fouling the state’s iconic lakes and rivers.” This problem, according to EWG, arises from the extraordinary expansion and intensification of both livestock and crop production in the state. 

Earlier in my career as a communication professional, I might have responded to EWG with a response that pointed to farmers as the original environmentalists. There’s nothing wrong with that argument, but from a scientific perspective, there isn’t any substance. Leveraging TFI’s new science resources, we can and did do better. Using in-house scientific expertise, we examined the methods and assumptions within the EWG report and found that they contained significant discrepancies with published reports, peer-reviewed articles, and TFI’s Nutrient Geographic Information System (NuGIS) and Soil Test Summary programs. These two programs are widely used by industry professionals to determine nutrient application and uptake rates and analyze soil test results across the country.   While the need to identify trends in nutrient balances is valid, that task is complex and must be undertaken with care. Leveraging TFI’s new science resources, and  in-house scientific expertise, we examined the methods and assumptions within the EWG report and found that they contained significant discrepancies with published reports, peer-reviewed articles, and TFI’s Nutrient Use Geographic Information System (NuGIS) and Soil Test Summary programs. These two programs are widely used by industry professionals to assess nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium balances (relationships of system inputs and outputs) for cropland and analyze soil test results across the country.

For example:

•    The EWG study doesn’t compare apples to apples. EWG’s crop nutrient removal and requirements were calculated based upon inconsistent timeframes. Fertilizer calculations were made for 2016 only, and manure for 2019. To properly compute nutrient balances, all inputs and outputs should be for the same time frame.

•    For 2014, EWG estimates total manure nitrogen applied and excreted in the state as much higher than NuGIS estimates. Excreted manure is 1.9 times as high, and applied is 3.6 times higher.

•    Nitrogen recoverability and loss assumptions differ greatly from those used in NuGIS and other reliable sources.

•    EWG assumes that crop requirements for phosphorus need not account for soil test levels. According to the Soil Test Summary, 47 percent of Minnesota soils were below critical levels in 2015.

•    We found a 50-fold error for the edible bean phosphorous removal coefficient. If calculated as presented, this amounts to an error of 68,000 tons of phosphorus.  

•    Manure application is not recognized. Within the five agricultural regions of the state, EWG assumes that fertilizer nitrogen is applied at the same rates to both manured and non-manured land.

•    Non-alfalfa hay and haylage typically receive an application of manure but are not considered in the EWG report. In 2019, 400,000 acres of non-alfalfa hay and haylage were harvested in Minnesota (USDA, NASS, 2020).

Having access to this information is just the start. We are engaging stakeholders – including EWG – to let them know about our concerns and make them aware of NUGIS as a resource. While different perspectives are critical, we aim to avoid future siloed efforts by engaging all stakeholders in the process.  For additional information on our work or on NuGIS, contact Foundation for Agronomic Research Director John Jones. 
 
 

The Fertilizer Industry is Ready for Business

We are living in unprecedented times as the COVID-19 pandemic has slowed our country to a near standstill. But in agriculture, the show must go on – even during a pandemic. As farmers headed back to the fields this spring, the fertilizer industry has been right beside them making sure they have the fertilizer they need, when and where they need it.

To do this requires addressing complex logistical challenges and coordination among all segments of the fertilizer value chain from manufacturing, transportation, wholesalers, distributors, and retailers. Any break in this chain could have a negative impact for farmers. The critical work being done throughout the fertilizer industry will ensure food from commodity crops like corn, soy, and wheat to fresh fruits and vegetables will remain on grocery store shelves throughout the coming months.

But being open for business looks a lot different than it did a few months ago. Within one week of the World Health Organization declaring COVID-19 as a pandemic, The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) was instrumental in gaining an “essential business” designation from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), meaning TFI members could remain open for business and keep employees on the job with appropriate safety measures put in place. Throughout the fertilizer supply chain, from manufacturing facilities to wholesaler and distribution to retail outlets, the entire fertilizer industry has taken precautions to protect the health and safety of all employees, including providing employees with personal protective equipment, maintaining social distancing, and following recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

To help alleviate some of the challenges facing the industry, TFI acted swiftly on several other key issues, including the essential services designation by the Department of Homeland Security,  securing personal protective equipment for industry employees from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and adding fertilizer to the list of product exemptions in the Department of Transportation’s Hours of Service emergency declaration.

“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” said TFI’s President and CEO Corey Rosenbusch. “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 to and from Canada is also an important part of the fertilizer supply chain.”

TFI also led a coalition of more than 40 national food and agriculture organizations in sending a letter to all 50 governors requesting that they incorporate DHS’s guidance declaring fertilizer as an essential service into their state response plans. As the fertilizer industry works across state lines, it was essential to have a consistent approach across all 50 states and local governments.

Throughout this time, TFI is committed to providing resources for fertilizer industry employees who continue to show up to work at fertilizer manufacturing, distribution, and retail facilities across the country. Visit TFI’s COVID-19 Resource Center for more information.

TFI staff is filled with gratitude for the role that our industry’s employees and their farmer customers play in keeping the world’s best food production system up and running throughout this crisis. It’s an honor to serve you.

If you would like to become a supporter of the fertilizer industry, add your name to the list below. Your support will help us communicate on key issues that impact the industry.

 

TFI Joins CLA and ARA to Announce Office Co-Location to Begin in 2021

WASHINGTON – The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) joined CropLife America (CLA) and the Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) in announcing today that the three organizations will co-locate to Arlington, VA, beginning in January 2021. Each organization will retain its focus on the needs of its respective members, but the move is expected to create greater opportunities for collaboration that can enhance each organization’s efficiency and effectiveness. The organizations’ respective Boards of Directors approved this concept in separate votes last fall.

“Just as our respective industries continue to integrate and consolidate, so too are we pursuing innovative and efficient ways to operate,” said TFI President and CEO Corey Rosenbusch. “This new arrangement will facilitate enhanced communication and collaboration on common issues.”

“CLA is excited to join two of our agriculture allies to better serve our respective members and the agricultural industry through closer collaboration. Although we will maintain distinctly separate organizations, we look forward to sharing common services, which will result in measurable savings that can be used to bolster our programs that benefit our members. We look forward to working even more closely together with ARA & TFI,” said Chris Novak, CLA president and CEO. 

“ARA’s members have identified the need to continually be more efficient with organizational resources,” said ARA President and CEO Daren Coppock. “By sharing an office space with CLA and TFI, we are able to be good stewards of our assets while applying cost savings to better serve our members through the work we do on their behalf.”

All three organizations will remain independent with no changes to their individual governance models.  TFI and CLA intend to relocate by January 2021, ARA intends to move March 2021. 

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Established in 1933, CropLife America (www.croplifeamerica.org) represents the developers, manufacturers, formulators and distributors of plant science solutions for agriculture and pest management in the United States. CropLife America’s member companies produce, sell and distribute virtually all of the necessary and vital crop protection and biotechnology products used by American farmers. CLA can be found on Twitter at @CropLifeAmerica.

The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) represents, promotes and advances the plant nutrition industry through policy advocacy, stewardship and sustainability initiatives and market intelligence programs. TFI membership is comprised of fertilizer producers, retailers, wholesalers and trading firms. Additional information on TFI is available at our website: www.tfi.org.

The Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) is a nonprofit trade association representing the interests of retailers across the United States on legislative and regulatory issues on Capitol Hill. As the political voice of agricultural retailers, ARA not only represents its membership but also educates members on the political process and important issues affecting the industry. For more information on current legislative and regulatory issues impacting agricultural retailers, visit www.aradc.org.