Crops Input Economist position applauded by The Fertilizer Institute

The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) welcomed the re-establishment of a Crop Inputs Economist within USDA’s Office of the Chief Economist after testifying in favor of the position before the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry earlier this month.

TFI said the position will provide “independent and consistent analysis and reporting on fertilizer and other crop input markets.” Accurate market analysis is especially important in fertilizer because domestic production figures alone do not represent the full competitive marketplace serving American growers, the institute said in a statement.

“TFI thanks Secretary (Brooke) Rollins for hearing the concerns of farmers across the country and advancing practical solutions that support market transparency and provide farmers with additional tools and information to help navigate volatility in a global fertilizer marketplace,” TFI president and CEO Corey Rosenbusch said in the statement. “Improving access to timely, consistent and reliable market information can help strengthen understanding of fertilizer and crop input markets across the agricultural economy, including the important distinction between domestic production capacity and overall market share in a globally traded fertilizer marketplace.”

The U.S. fertilizer industry supports hundreds of thousands of jobs and continues to make significant long-term investments in domestic production, supply chain infrastructure, and distribution networks to strengthen fertilizer availability and support a resilient farm economy, TFI said.

“If there was only one thing policymakers took away from last week’s Senate hearing, it should be that growers, agriculture advocates and the fertilizer industry all support efforts to improve transparency and strengthen communication across the agricultural supply chain,” Rosenbusch continued. “The fertilizer industry remains committed to working with Congress, USDA and stakeholders across agriculture on solutions that support farmers and help ensure a stable and accessible supply of fertilizer products for American growers.”

Rising input costs stemming from the ongoing conflict with Iran are affecting growers. An April survey conducted by the American Farm Bureau Federation found that 70% of farmers worry they cannot afford to purchase enough fertilizer to make it through the year.