News

Trade tariffs would have a fertilizer impact

The executive director of Illinois Corn says if tariffs go into effect fertilizer pricing and availability could get complicated for U.S. farmers.

President Trump has threatened 25% tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico, but the tariffs have been delayed until March.

Rodney Weinzierl says potassium imports from Canada are a concern.

“We import about 90% of our potassium fertilizer; one of the three macronutrients crops need.”

Weinzierl, a corn and soybean farmer, says he already applied fertilizer in the fall, but farmers in southern Illinois still need to apply fertilizer this spring. If tariffs linger beyond planting, he says most farmers will feel the price impact this summer.

“Hopefully, some of the uncertainty surrounding trade we can work through as ag retailers begin stocking up for the fall and we lock in contracts for the season.”

Weinzierl was a panelist in a House Ag Committee hearing on the ag economy this week. Watch the hearing.