Category: Energy & Environment

Coalition Names Illinois CCA Winner of CCA Conservationist of the Year Award

WASHINGTON, Dec. 8, 2020 – Today, Michael Wilson of Allandale, Ill., was named this year’s recipient of the Certified Crop Adviser (CCA) Conservationist of the Year Award.

The 2020 Award was announced by Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Acting Chief Kevin Norton during a virtual ceremony held by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The CCA Conservationist of the Year Award annually recognizes a certified crop adviser who exhibits dedication to exceptional conservation delivery and customer service and has shown to be a leader in their industry.

“Mr. Wilson has made significant contributions to the agriculture industry through his experience and dedication to conservation,” said National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) CEO Jeremy Peters while presenting the award. “His work and achievements truly make him a leader of stewardship and soil health.”

“Admirably, Mr. Mike Wilson is a true example of NRCS’s mission of delivering conservation solutions so agricultural producers can protect our natural resources and feed a growing world,” said Acting Chief Norton. “It takes partners like those in agribusiness with an eye toward natural resource conservation to achieve our goals to increase the overall stewardship of our nation’s farming, ranching and forest landowners’ operations on private lands.”

This year’s award recognizes Wilson’s over 30 years of crop advising experience. He currently works for the Wabash Valley Service Company with a group of CCAs to reach growers on about 600,000 acres in southeast Illinois. His work includes demonstrating to farmers practices and products to increase Nutrient Use Efficiency (NUE), maintain or improve yield, and reduce nutrient loss to the environment. His teamwork with growers has resulted in an increased use of nitrogen stabilizers, with 85 percent of all nitrogen applications receiving a stabilizer in the product.

“Agricultural retailers and their employees play a dynamic and trusted role in conservation planning and Mike is a great example of this. ARA congratulates Mike on his award and is proud to be a partner in this annual recognition,” said Daren Coppock, President and CEO of the Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA).

“TFI has known Mike for many years now, and it is no surprise to us that he was chosen as the Conservationist of the Year,” said Corey Rosenbusch, President and CEO of The Fertilizer Institute (TFI). “His commitment to conservation and to the principles of 4R Nutrient Stewardship is exemplary and reflects the values of agricultural retailers across the country who work with farmers to implement best practices.”

“Mike is a great example of the value of Certified Crop Advisers working closely with farmers and ranchers to promote conservation stewardship,” said Nick Goeser, CEO of the American Society of Agronomy (ASA), Crop Science Society of America (CSSA) and Soil Science Society of America (SSSA). “Not only is he a conservation and agriculture leader, but Mike is dedicated to training the next generation of CCAs to continue the legacy of economic and environmental sustainability.”

“Soil health and conservation are critical elements of agriculture sustainability,” said Dr. Barb Glenn, CEO of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA). “We congratulate and thank Mike for his committed stewardship of our natural resources.”

Wilson was named a 4R Advocate by The Fertilizer Institute in 2013 for his commitment to helping growers implement the principles of 4R Nutrient Stewardship. He is also a regular guest speaker at Wabash Valley College in Mount Carmel, Ill., and works to support students by hosting field trips and tours of the Wabash Valley Service Company’s operations.

“Mr. Wilson is a natural teacher, and his real-world experience … always elicits questions from students about how to implement these strategies in our region of Illinois,” said Steve Hnetkovsky, assistant professor of agriculture at Wabash Valley College and Wilson’s nominator for the award. “He is a force of nature when it comes to advocating for responsible nutrient management and stewardship of our soil resource.”

To view a recording of the award presentation, click here.

###

The CCA Conservationist of the Year Award is supported by a conservation and agribusiness partnership between the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, the Agricultural Retailers Association, the American Society of Agronomy, CropLife America, Crop Science Society of America, National Association of Conservation Districts, National Association of State Departments of Agriculture, Soil Science Society of America and The Fertilizer Institute. The American Society of Agronomy administers the award. Learn more at https://www.agronomy.org/awards.

The Next Stop on TFI’s Sustainability Journey

It’s been said that sustainability is a journey, that you don’t suddenly wake up one day achieving your end goals. It takes time, effort, and resources to get to where you are going.

This viewpoint is no different for trade associations, and The Fertilizer Institute has been on a journey since 2014 to advance sustainability within the fertilizer industry. In 2015, TFI began the process to document and track progress on industry-wide metrics. In 2020, TFI released the fifth State of the Fertilizer Industry Report, which has proven invaluable to TFI and the industry as we work to achieve desired policy outcomes.

With five years under our belt, we felt it was time to hit the pause button and assess where we are on this journey of sustainability. Are we meeting the industry’s needs? How can TFI better support advancing sustainable plant production and use? And where do we see the industry in the next five years?

Those questions led us to realize that our data collection and reporting efforts weren’t going to get us to where we want to go. The spectrum of the sustainability journey looks different for our diverse membership base. While some companies are well on their way, others are trying to figure out how to get started. And, sustainability perspectives vary based on where a company is positioned in the supply chain. Education, networking and input on resources from our members are key to advancing sustainable plant nutrition.

So, starting in the fall of 2020, TFI will stand up a new Sustainability Committee with a mission to advance sustainable plant nutrition to reduce the environmental footprint, build economic and reputational health, and support public policy outcomes for nutrient production and use.

While we are looking for members to sign up to join the committee, we intend to start with a dialogue as we want to hear from you. On October 22, 2020, we will host a virtual town hall forum. Attendees will hear from a spectrum of members about their sustainability journey – from members who are just starting out to those with years of experience. Your insights and questions are welcomed and encouraged! The town hall is open to employees from TFI member companies; you can register for this event here.

Attendance is not required to participate on the committee. If you are interested in committee participation, please fill out this form and we will add you to the list.

As TFI takes the next step on our sustainability journey, we hope you will join us for the ride!

Please note that participation in the Town Hall and on the committee is restricted to employees of TFI member companies. To register for the Town Hall, you will need to log-in to TFI’s website. Please go to tfi.org/user/signin to sign in or create an account.

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.  

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.

###

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.

#

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.

# # #

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.”

#

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 Statement on House Select Committee’s Climate Crisis Action Plan

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) today released the following statement regarding the House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis “Climate Crisis Action Plan,” which provides a framework for comprehensive climate change legislation. 

TFI and its members recognize the ongoing challenge of climate change and are committed to the safe, secure and sustainable production, distribution and use of plant nutrition. Click here to read a letter TFI submitted to the Select Committee in November 2019 outlining our priorities for climate change policy.

As Congress continues to debate various climate change policy proposals, it is important to recognize the importance and contributions of the U.S. fertilizer industry to global food security, supply and sustainable agriculture production. Fertilizers account for 50 percent of global food production. In addition, the fertilizer industry supports more than 487,000 American jobs and has an economic impact of over $130 billion annually.

The U.S. fertilizer manufacturing industry is both energy-intensive and trade-exposed and “any potential climate legislation must preserve the global competitiveness of the U.S. fertilizer industry and our farmer customers,” TFI President and CEO Corey Rosenbusch said. Furthermore, any federal policy, including a price on carbon, that increases production costs—both directly through a carbon fee and indirectly by increasing the cost of natural gas—would likely lead the industry to reconsider any additional investments in the U.S. and could force production overseas.

Rosenbusch explained, “From 1998-2008, when natural gas prices increased 4-fold, half of U.S. ammonia production capacity was shut down. Beyond the problem of jobs lost, that production shifted overseas to countries that don’t necessarily have the same efficiencies or environmental regulations.” For example, nearly 80 percent of China’s ammonia production uses coal as a feedstock, a process that emits nearly two and a half times the amount of carbon dioxide as using natural gas. Therefore, any climate change legislation must include a mechanism to prevent the potential for such carbon leakage. 

“Thanks to advances in fertilizer production processes and the implementation of science-based 4R Nutrient Stewardship practices, the fertilizer supply chain and our farmer customers today are producing more with less,” continued Rosenbusch. “We are pleased that the report includes a recommendation to provide increased incentives and resources for farmers to adopt the 4Rs as a way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG).  In addition, we recommend including 4R practice implementation in any offset credit program that may accompany any market-based regime to reduce GHG emissions.”

A recent case study showed that a corn farmer in Illinois who went from basic to advanced 4R practices on his farm was able to reduce his CO2 emissions by 34.7 percent over the course of four years. Additionally, cost per acre decreased by more than $60 due to lower fertilizer costs associated with variable rate applications and decreased labor and equipment costs for strip-till applications of anhydrous ammonia versus full, custom applications.

Since 1980, U.S. farmers have more than doubled corn production while using only 6.9 percent more fertilizer. “Without that yield increase from fertilizer, our farmers would need 175 million additional acres to grow the same amount of corn,” Rosenbusch explained. “Efficient use of fertilizer and industry ingenuity have led to a doubling of yield, a modest increase in fertilizer use, and the preservation of an area roughly the size of Texas from being turned into farmland. When you look at it from that perspective, fertilizer is a key component in land conservation and of reducing deforestation.”

“TFI is committed to continuing to work with members of Congress to ensure that any legislation or policy advanced can reduce GHG emissions without creating disincentives that would inhibit the continued advancement toward a more sustainable U.S. fertilizer industry.”

 

###

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.

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. 
 
 

Yara’s Incubator Farms Demonstrate Ongoing Quest for Knowledge

This post is part of a series highlighting work across the fertilizer industry as featured in TFI’s State of the Fertilizer Industry Report. Visit http://www.fertilizerreport.org to learn more.

 

Yara is a global crop nutrition company that has been selling products and solutions since 1905 and employs more than 17,000 workers worldwide. The company places a heavy focus on increasing knowledge in crop nutrition and environmental solutions. One way it does that is by investing to find real-world solutions to crop nutrition needs.

To support this mission, the company established the Yara Incubator Farms in Auburn, Alabama; Modesto, California; and Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, as a place to explore, evolve, refine and share knowledge. Field-scale soil fertility and crop nutrient management research will be done at the combined 240-acre farms in collaboration with partners, customers, and various technology providers.

The incubator farms enable Yara and its partners to gather data and intimate knowledge of every aspect of the cropping system over the years. The Auburn farm, established in partnership with Auburn University, is currently growing corn, cotton, and soybeans on 80 acres, 60 of which are irrigated. The Modesto farm has 40 acres of fertigated and established almonds, and 40 acres of irrigated and established walnuts. The 80-acre Saskatoon farm will be established in 2020 near the Ag In Motion site and focus on the common rotational dryland crops wheat, canola, and pulses.

Toby Goodroad, market development director for Yara North America, says that Yara’s investment in incubator farms and supporting research demonstrates the commitment Yara has to growers and dealer customers.

“These farms are used to generate new knowledge, to try to understand the cropping system as a whole and provide our commercial teams agronomic arguments to try to change things or benefit the industry,” Goodroad said. “We have a little over 800 agronomists on the ground globally working with farmers, working with dealers, trying to provide solutions.”

Goodroad added that their agronomists are always hungry for information and to be trained on the latest science as they are the technical expert of Yara’s fertilizer products. Their collective knowledge helps Yara create trust in the marketplace and bring proper solutions for farmers around the globe.

“I think knowledge is key. We want to sell the right products because at the end of the day, farmers and dealers expect results,” said Goodroad.

The research done on these fields aim to improve nutrient and water use efficiency. Using 4R Nutrient Stewardship principles combined with cultural practices and proper water management, Yara intends to find areas where improvements can be made.

“How can we continuously feed fertility through the season, versus big shots only a few times a year?” Goodroad asked, referring to their research. “How do we keep nutrients and water in the root zone where the crop can access it?” Regarding fertigation he said, “That all comes back to water again, but it also comes back to your ability to manage the fertility going into the irrigation system.” 

Goodroad says “Yara wants to help improve the sustainability of the farmer. And the incubator farms can provide some clear answers on how to advise farmers to do things in the most sustainable way.”

“We’re a small voice at the end of the day, but we need to work together and build trust. It’s not all about sales, but it’s all about being here for the next several centuries.”