Fertilizer prices have soared during the present quarter as a result of China restricting exports and the conflict in Ukraine resulting in embargos against Russia a major supplier.

Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack recently announced a program to allocate $250 million in Commodity Credit Corporation funds to “support independent, innovative and sustainable American fertilizer production to supply American farmers.”

In addressing the Commodity Classic in New Orleans on Friday March 11th Vilsack quoted in AgriPost stated, “We have to recognize that we are too reliant on outside sources for fertilizer and the ingredients for fertilizer.  We rely on countries that may or may not agree with us on a variety of issues.”  He added, “We have had this incredible efficiency based on a global system we have put together but we forgot about resiliency.  We focused so much on efficiency that we forgot the ability to make sure that if there is a disruption that we are able to adjust.”

Any expenditure of funds will require time to erect plants and to develop new technology. It will be years before any appreciable increase in self-sufficiency is achieved.