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Fordyce: U.S. positioned to produce enough nitrogen fertilizer for farmers and export

The Undersecretary for Farm Production and Conservation at USDA says increased access to natural gas will help domestic fertilizer production grow.

Richard Fordyce tells Brownfield new fracking technologies are paying dividends.

“We are now a net exporter of natural gas. Well natural gas is the key feedstock ingredient to make nitrogen fertilizer.”

He says the goal is to produce enough domestic nitrogen to meet the needs of U.S. farmers and export any additional supplies.

“That’s where we’re headed and there’s some short-term things we can do, some intermediate-term things we can do, and then certainly the long-term view.”

Fordyce says he’s encouraged by recent announcements by CF Industries and CHS to build fertilizer plants in Louisiana.

Brownfield interviewed the undersecretary earlier this week at the Farm Progress Show near Boone, Iowa.