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4R Research: Meet the Researcher Dr. William Frame

Dr. William Frame

The FERT Foundation is home to 12 research projects that focus on fluid fertilizer and 4R optimization. Members had the opportunity to meet researchers and learn about these projects during last week’s Fertilizer Research Forum. Each week we have been featuring a different researcher in this publication, and this week, we’d like you to meet 4R Researcher Dr. William Frame.


Researcher: Dr. William “Hunter” Frame is a native of Virginia and a graduate of Virginia Tech (B.S. and Ph.D.), as well as the University of Tennessee Knoxville (M.S.). He specialized in Crop and Soil Environmental Sciences and Plant Sciences, with his advanced degrees focusing on nitrogen fertilizer management in winter wheat, corn, and burley tobacco systems. Since May 2012, he has been a faculty member at Virginia Tech, serving as the Field Crop Agronomist. His program concentrates on addressing agronomic challenges in cotton production and enhanced efficiency nitrogen fertilizer management for non-legume field crops. Currently, he serves as the project director on the TFI 4R funded grant ($874,980): “An Integrated Approach for Nitrogen Management in Upland Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) across the U.S. Cotton Belt” from 2019 to 2024. Outside of his research and Extension program responsibilities, Dr. Frame enjoys watching his daughter play softball and bow hunting for whitetail deer.

Dr. Frame’s work aims to: 

  • Quantify the agronomic response of contemporary cotton varieties adapted to major production regions to varying N rates and placement strategies 
  • Determine the impact of EEF’s on N transformations and increasing NUE in cotton production systems 
  • Measure gaseous N losses, other common greenhouse gases from common N fertilizers, and leaching of N applied at varying N application rates and placements with and without enhanced efficiency N fertilizer additives or products 

Draft Risk Evaluation for Formaldehyde

On March 15, 2024, EPA released the draft risk evaluation under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) for formaldehyde for public comment and peer review. The EPA preliminarily determined that formaldehyde poses an unreasonable risk in 3 conditions of use (COU) related to fertilizer. TFI has developed a one-pager on formaldehyde. Please reach out to Reagan with any questions or to get involved in TFI’s response to this evaluation.

4R Research: Meet the Researcher Dr. Patrick Brown

Dr. Patrick Brown

The FERT Foundation is home to 12 research projects that focus on fluid fertilizer and 4R optimization. Members had the opportunity to meet and learn about these projects during last week’s Fertilizer Research Forum. Each week we have been featuring a different researcher in this publication, and this week, we’d like you to meet 4R Researcher Patrick Brown.  

Researcher: Dr. Patrick Brown is the Professor of Plant Nutrition at the University of California, Davis – USA. He received his B.Sc. in 1984 from Adelaide University, Australia and Ph.D. from Cornell University, USA in 1988.  Dr. Brown has authored more than 250 scientific journal articles and numerous books and is among the highest cited experts in plant nutrition, biostimulants, boron, foliar fertilizers and horticulture. Dr. Brown is recognized globally as a leader in both basic and applied plant nutrition and has served as a member of numerous scientific and technical committees for governmental agencies including US-EPA, USDA, Californian Dept. Food and Ag and the International Standards Organization. Dr. Brown is a member of the IFA’s Science Panel for the Responsible Use of Fertilizers. Dr. Brown has received many awards national and international for excellence in research and extension. 

Project Name: Optimizing Potassium Management in Almond  

University: UC Davis  

Years Funded: 2021-2023 

4R Questions Addressed: Rate, Source, and Place  

Dr. Brown’s fluid project is designed to: 

  • Determine the extent and causes of in-field K variability 
  • Develop cost-effective methods to identify areas of differential K demand 
  • Development of optimized K- fertilization sources and strategies, including site-specific fertilization strategies suited to the modern fertigated orchard context 

Impact of Key Bridge Collapse on Fertilizer Market

The destruction of the Key Bridge in Baltimore should have a relatively limited impact on U.S. fertilizer trade. Over the last five years, on average, about 1% of all U.S. fertilizer imports have come in through the Port of Baltimore. In 2023, fertilizer imports into the Port of Baltimore were valued at nearly $75 million. Over 86% of those imports were nitrogenous fertilizers. Baltimore was the 7th most important port for imports of fertilizer from Russia in 2023, with imports of $33.5 million from that trade partner. Fertilizer exports from the Port of Baltimore are more limited, averaging about $7 million over the last five years. Less than 1% of U.S. fertilizer exports in 2023 left from Baltimore.

TFI State Biostimulant Legislative Initiative Underway

This week, TFI organized a strategy meeting involving state advocacy experts from Nutrien, Helena, Corteva, BIO, CropLife America, and Southern Crop Production Association. Together, they outlined essential steps to implement the plan for achieving state adoption of the biostimulant model state legislation. This initiative aims to establish a consistent definition and uniform label across all 50 states. The strategy will complement TFI’s ongoing efforts to educate and garner support from NASDA, state agribusiness associations and local farm bureaus.  Please contact Ed Thomas with any questions.

Do Drivers Need a Paper Copy of Your Bill of Lading When Transporting a Load? 

A TFI member recently reached out with a question regarding truck drivers’ bill of lading paperwork when picking up loads at plants or terminals and whether a pdf on an app would suffice.  Under Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration revisions to the Code of Federal Regulations from a couple of years ago, drivers do not need to possess a paper copy.  Read the final rule regarding electronic recordkeeping below.  The real thing is just that you have to ensure the necessary record availability and record retention.  Electronic means of doing so is sufficient.  Just for your awareness when reviewing the document, not every reference to bill of lading highlighted because not all references were relevant.  For more information contact Tom Lynch.

FMCSA Electronic Records Fed Reg 2018-07749 (1)Download

The Importance of Adding Phosphate and Potash to the Critical Minerals List

Deep mine of potash production.

The United States Geological Survey’s (USGS) 2022 list of critical minerals, essential to the nation’s economic and national security, notably does not include phosphorus and potash, vital elements for agriculture and our food supply.

Efforts to include phosphorus and potash in the critical minerals list have gained momentum with legislation being introduced in both the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate. Supporters of the legislation make the compelling case that these minerals are essential for agriculture and, by extension, national security, and economic stability. The reevaluation of the critical status of these minerals is crucial, especially given the current challenges in the global fertilizer market.

The need for phosphate and potash to be included on the critical minerals list becomes evident when we consider that both are non-renewable resources and geographically limited. Being geographically limited means that the supply chains for phosphorus and potash are concentrated in a few countries, leading to potential geopolitical risks. For instance, most of the world’s phosphorus reserves are located in Morocco and Western Sahara, while Canada, Russia, and Belarus are major potash suppliers. This concentration raises concerns about U.S. national supply security, especially during times of political instability or trade disruptions. Recent global events have highlighted the vulnerability of fertilizer supply chains. Including phosphorus and potash in the critical minerals list would emphasize the need to develop more resilient supply chains and domestic sources, reducing import dependency and mitigating the impact of global shortages.

The U.S. has both phosphate and potash production, but expanding mines and opening new ones is a costly and time-consuming process measured in years and in the tens of millions of dollars for permitting alone. Being listed as critical minerals would not exclude these projects from environmental reviews, but would assign a single permitting agency to be responsible and streamline the process.

Adding phosphate and potash to the Critical Minerals list would be a significant step towards securing our own future and sending the clear message that safeguarding our nation’s food supply is not only an economic imperative, but a strategic priority that ensures our well-being.

Global Fertilizer Day: Harnessing Nitrogen

On the 13th of October every year, the agricultural world comes together to celebrate one of the most revolutionary inventions: the harvesting of nitrogen from the air. This remarkable invention gave birth to modern-day fertilizers, and consequently, Global Fertilizer Day is commemorated to honor this milestone in agricultural innovation.

At the heart of this celebration lies the simple yet profound understanding of nitrogen’s role in plant growth. Nitrogen is an essential component of amino acids, proteins, and nucleic acids, foundational to all life forms. Although the Earth’s atmosphere is composed of about 78% nitrogen, plants cannot directly utilize this atmospheric nitrogen. Instead, they rely on nitrogen compounds present in the soil.

Historically, farmers depended on organic materials like manure, compost, or crop residues to replenish soil nitrogen. However, the growing human population necessitated a more reliable and voluminous nitrogen source. This need led to the invention of the Haber-Bosch process in the early 20th century, a method that captures nitrogen from the air and converts it into ammonia.

The advent of modern fertilizers changed the face of agriculture, dramatically increasing crop yields. With the world’s population expected to reach nearly 10 billion by 2050, ensuring food security becomes paramount. Here’s how fertilizers play an indispensable role:

  • Fertilizers provide essential nutrients that might be deficient in the soil, resulting in higher crop production.
  • Sustainable Farming and modern precision agriculture use fertilizers more efficiently by utilizing the 4R method, delivering the right source, the right amount, at the right time and place, minimizing wastage and environmental impact.
  • Fertilizers improve the nutritional content of foods. Adequate fertilization can enhance the nutritional value of crops, leading to healthier diets.

Global Fertilizer Day isn’t just a celebration of an invention. It’s an acknowledgment of fertilizers’ central role in ensuring food security for billions worldwide. As we get ready to mark this day, let’s appreciate the immense contributions of the agricultural community and reaffirm our commitment to sustainable farming practices, ensuring a nourished and secure future for all.

For ways you can be involved in Global Fertilizer Day, click HERE.