KTVQ in Montana reports that the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) will make available a $250 million grant program to support independent, innovative and sustainable American fertilizer production to supply American farmers.

Additionally, to address growing competition concerns in the agricultural supply chain, USDA will launch a public inquiry seeking information regarding seeds and agricultural inputs, fertilizer, and retail markets.

The price of fertilizer has more than doubled since the same time in 2021.

The United States is a major importer of, and is deeply dependent on, foreign fertilizer.  In fact, the US is the second or third top importer for each of the three major components of fertilizer. The top producers of the major components of fertilizer include China, Russia, Canada and Morocco, with Belarus also providing a significant share of potash.

The new program will support fertilizer production that is:

– Independent – outside the dominant fertilizer suppliers, increasing competition in a concentrated market.

– Made in America – produced in the United States by domestic companies, creating good-paying jobs at home and reducing the reliance on potentially unstable or inconsistent foreign supplies.

– Innovative – improve upon fertilizer production methods to jump-start the next generation of fertilizers.

– Sustainable – reduces the greenhouse gas impact of transportation, production, and use through renewable energy sources, feedstocks, formulations, and incentivizing greater precision in fertilizer use.

– Farmer-focused – like other Commodity Credit Corporation investments, a driving factor will be providing support and opportunities for U.S. agriculture commodity producers.

Read more here.