Ernst Seeks Clarity and Certainty on Fertilizer Prices for Iowa Farmers

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) is joining U.S. Senators Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), and Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) in introducing bipartisan legislation to shine a light on market factors driving the high cost of fertilizer, a major expense for farmers. The Fertilizer Research Act would require the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to conduct a study on competition and trends in the fertilizer market and their subsequent impacts on price.

“Fertilizer is an essential tool our farmers rely on to maintain healthy soil and improve crop yields,” said Senator Ernst. “I’m working hard to drive down fertilizer costs and make life more affordable for both farmers and consumers. By gaining a better understanding of the fertilizer industry, this research will provide the foundational knowledge needed to give farmers much needed clarity and certainty as harvest approaches.”

Within one year of the bill’s passage, the Secretary of Agriculture, in consultation with the Economic Research Service, would be required to issue a report on USDA’s website regarding the U.S. fertilizer industry.

Specifically, the report should include:

• A description of impacts on the fertilizer market that influence price;
• Market trends in the past 25 years;

• A description of the imported fertilizer and market impacts;

• Impacts of anti-dumping and countervailing duties;

• A study of fertilizer industry concentration;

• A study of emerging fertilizer technologies; and

• A description of whether current public price reporting is sufficient for market transparency.

Read the full bill HERE.

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