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Which candidate will help this situation, fertilizer?

Red Robin

Well-known member
by Steve Watson
Kansas State University

Supplies of nitrogen fertilizers, as well as phosphorus and potassium fertilizers, are tight throughout the United States, making this the time to plan ahead, a Kansas State University agronomist said.

In fact, it is currently difficult to buy fertilizer nitrogen for winter wheat topdressing and/or this spring´s row crops unless the supply has already been lined up---regardless of what the posted prices are, said Dale Leikam, K-State Research and Extension nutrient management specialist.

"The tight supply situation applies to all the main nitrogen fertilizer sources- UAN solution, urea, and ammonia---as well as other phosphorus and potassium fertilizers. Fertilizer prices are continuing to increase and supplies will likely remain very tight for the foreseeable future," Leikam said. "Therefore, producers should keep in close contact with their supplier in order to line up their anticipated fertilizer needs. Waiting until it is time to apply crop nutrients to make arrangements for fertilizer needs could leave producers on the outside looking in."

The sharp increase in price and accompanying fertilizer N shortage is not a sudden development, the agronomist explained. Unprecedented market forces have markedly changed the fertilizer industry over the past decade which has set the stage for the current supply/demand imbalance and resulting high prices, he said.

"Over the past decade, much of our fertilizer nitrogen manufacturing capacity has shut down in the U.S. as a result of sharp increases and fluctuations in natural gas costs, lower-cost foreign competition, domestic environmental regulations, and so forth. In most cases, the domestic fertilizer manufacturing plants that have ceased operations will likely never come back on line despite the current higher fertilizer nitrogen prices," Leikam said.

As a result, more and more nitrogen fertilizer is now imported from countries in the Middle East, South America, the former Soviet Union, and other low-cost natural gas areas, he said.

"More than 50 percent U.S. fertilizer nitrogen supply is imported annually---and our dependence on foreign imports continues to increase.

“Also, global demand for this supply of fertilizer nitrogen continues to increase, especially in countries such as China and India with rapidly expanding economies," Leikam said.

Producers can do little about this situation except to keep in constant contact with their local fertilizer supplier and commit to needed products as soon they know what their needs are, the K-State agronomist said.
 

Mike

Well-known member
April 30, 2007
HOMELAND SECURITY
House Advances Ammonium Nitrate Bill
Legislation would require federal regulations for handling fertilizer used in terrorist bombs
Glenn Hess

The government will have to regulate all sales and purchases of ammonium nitrate fertilizer under a House bill that could be on a fast-track toward passage.

FERTILIZER OVERSIGHT Terra Industries' Yazoo City, Miss., nitrogen manufacturing plant could soon be subject to new federal regulations to protect against terrorist use of ammonium nitrate fertilizer.The Secure Handling of Ammonium Nitrate Act of 2007 (H.R. 1680) gained unanimous approval from the House Homeland Security Committee on April 26. The measure would require the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to create a regulatory system to help keep ammonium nitrate out of the hands of those with criminal intent.

The widely used and easily obtained fertilizer was the main ingredient in the truck bomb that blew up the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City in 1995, killing 168 people and injuring hundreds more. The terrorist group al Qaeda also used ammonium nitrate bombs in a 2002 attack on the Indonesian island of Bali and in two attacks in 2003 in Istanbul.

"America has been waiting for 12 years for the bill, and we are finally coming down the homestretch," says Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-Miss.), chairman of the homeland security panel.

The bill would require all ammonium nitrate producers, sellers, and purchasers who take custody of the material to register with DHS. All registrations would be checked against terrorist watch lists, and in this regard, the bill also includes provisions for expedited reviews of registration applications, notification of application status, and an appeals process.

In addition, the bill would require producers and sellers to maintain records of all sales for two years, including the producer's name, address, phone number, registration number, and the date and quantity of ammonium nitrate sold. The bill, which does not preempt state law, requires all thefts or unexplained losses be reported to federal law enforcement within 24 hours.

The fertilizer industry supports the legislation. "Through its creation of a uniform national system for tracking ammonium nitrate sales, the committee is helping ensure that this valuable fertilizer remains available for its intended purpose," says Ford West, president of the Fertilizer Institute. "We urge the full House to act swiftly to approve this key measure."

A companion bill is expected to be introduced in the Senate by Sen. Mark Pryor (D-Ark.).
 
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