ISG statement on increasing fertilizer costs

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — U.S. farmers continue to face market uncertainty and rising input costs which are being worsened by phosphate duties incurred through antidumping and countervailing investigations.

According to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agency, “antidumping and countervailing duties are intended to offset the value of dumping and/or subsidization, thereby leveling the playing field for domestic industries injured by such unfairly traded imports.”

But, in a recently published research report, the Texas A&M University Agricultural and Food Policy Center found that the U.S. Countervailing Duty on Moroccan phosphate fertilizers imports increased the cost of phosphorus fertilizers for U.S. producers by an estimated $6.9 billion between 2021 and 2025.

In response, Illinois Soybean Growers and the Illinois Corn Growers Association signed onto a letter developed by the National Corn Growers Association urging fertilizer manufacturers to renounce their support for continued CVDs.

“Addressing this issue has the potential to open up the phosphate market and drive down fertilizer costs,” said Bryan Severs, ISG chairman and American Soybean Association board director.

“Lowering fertilizer costs would provide much-needed relief for farmers already navigating tight margins and ongoing market volatility.”