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Ohio ag leader says fertilizer market needs more competition
The executive director of Ohio Corn and Wheat says growers feel they have little control over excessively high fertilizer prices.
Tadd Nicholson tells Brownfield, “The frustration farmers have is everything we sell gets priced like a commodity. This thing we’re buying is very much a commodity and it’s not priced like that. That’s frustrating for farmers to see.”
He says the US needs long-term solutions to address the issue.
“The phosphate duty that just got temporarily relieved, that’s a temporary fix. It’s nice. It’s certainly helpful. But it’s temporary. What we’re looking for is tangible, permanent fixes and changes to the way fertilizer is marketed across the country.”
Nicholson says two recently announced fertilizer plants in Louisiana could help strengthen the U.S. fertilizer supply chain.
He also says he’s encouraged that USDA Deputy Secretary Stephen Vaden has been meeting directly with producers to hear how high fertilizer prices are affecting their operations.
“He’s not here just to waste his time. He’s here because (USDA) wants to take tangible action on this and I’m very encouraged by that.”
Nicholson spoke to Brownfield following a farmer fertilizer hearing that was held in Iowa on September 11th.
Tadd Nicholson:
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