Senator Chuck Grassley joined dozens of his colleagues in the House and Senate in penning a letter last week urging the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) to address rising fertilizer costs for farmers and supply chain delays. Grassley says, “I continue hearing from Iowa farmers concerned that these sky-high prices will make it even more difficult to earn a living. Soaring inflation is making matters worse, driving up the cost of other critical inputs farmers rely on. I’ll continue to urge the ITC and the Biden administration to take necessary action to lower costs.” According to a report released in January by Texas A&M University, input costs have increased by nearly five times in less than two years. Nitrogen prices in July 2020 were around $250 per ton but have since climbed to over $1,000 per ton, with potassium and phosphorous seeing similar jumps. Lawmakers are calling on the ITC to eliminate duties on fertilizer products from Morocco and suspend efforts to impose new duties on urea ammonium from Trinidad and Tobago. Additionally, Grassley is urging U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland to open an investigation into alleged anticompetitive activity and market manipulation in the fertilizer industry. Other members of Iowa’s congressional delegation to sign on to the letter include Representatives Cindy Axne, Mariannette Miller-Meeks, and Randy Feenstra, and Senator Joni Ernst. A full copy of the letter to the ITC is included with this story on our website.
