News

More access to fertilizer coming to Midwest farmers

Farmers are expected to have greater access to domestically produced fertilizer following an announcement at the 2025 Farm Progress Show.

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker says cooperation between the state and Cronus Chemical LLC is bringing a $2 billion fertilizer production facility to east central Illinois.

“Now, Cronus Chemicals will help to stem the high tide of pricing by bringing an annual production capacity of 950,000 short tons of ammonia right in central Illinois,” he says.

In a video statement, Melih Keyman, Chairman of Cronus Chemicals’ Board of Directors, says that the plant is expected to initially create 130 new jobs, with the potential for future expansion.

Our Tuscola, Illinois, location is big enough to eventually add upgrading facilities for urea and UAN production,” he says.

Director of the Illinois Department of Agriculture Jerry Costello says it’s a needed win for farmers.

“Anything that we can do to help producers is extremely, extremely important.”  He says, “Right now, the average tariff or tax on ag inputs has gone from 1% to 12% in seven months.”

Mark Denzler, president & CEO of the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association, says the facility is set to be a model of clean fertilizer production.

“The project importantly also uses carbon capture and storage (CCS), a safe and proven technology to trap and store 90% of the carbon dioxide, meaning significantly reduced emissions.”  He says, “Illinois has the industry, technology, and geology to be the national leader in CCS.”

Officials say the new facility could be online about 40 months after a yet-to-be-announced groundbreaking.