The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) called on the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to take steps to ensure America’s farmers continue to have access to fertilizer supplies. AFBF submitted comments on USDA’s “Request for Information on Access to Fertilizer: Competition and Supply Chain Concerns.”
AFBF outlined various factors that have combined to create shortages and increase fertilizer costs including the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, rising inflation, labor shortages, regulatory hurdles and increased transportation costs.
“America’s farmers are being called on to feed both America’s families and families abroad as war and shortages take their toll on our international neighbors,” said AFBF President Zippy Duvall. “Farmers and ranchers have answered the call before. They stand ready to do it again. But they need access to necessary supplies in a timely manner. Supply chain issues and inflation aren’t short-term problems, so we need long-term solutions, partnerships with USDA, and action across the federal government to ensure we can continue to meet growing demands of a hungry world.”
AFBF’s recommendations include:
- Providing assistance to farmers to expand on-site farm fertilizer storage capacity to help them manage costs throughout the year;
- Urging EPA to seek reforms to review processes that create barriers for domestic fertilizer production;
- Modernize weight restrictions for trucks to reduce the number of trucks needed to transport goods;
- Enact rail reforms to promote rail competition, fair rates and reliable service.
Read the full comments here.