Franklin Demands Immediate Action As Sulfur Crisis Threatens Florida Fertilizer Production

Congressman Scott Franklin (FL-18) today sent a letter to Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick demanding immediate, coordinated federal action to address the sulfur supply and cost crisis already threatening domestic fertilizer production. With phosphate producers already cutting operations and idling facilities, Franklin warned continued delays threaten American jobs, Central Florida businesses, farm profitability and put the nation's food security at risk.

"American fertilizer producers are cutting production now due to the high cost of sulfur needed to convert phosphate rock into fertilizer. Farmers and workers cannot afford more delays," said Congressman Scott Franklin. "This crisis reaches beyond the plant gates to the machine shops, contractors, truckers and small businesses that support Florida's phosphate industry. Reviewing the problem is not enough. The Administration must secure additional sulfur suplies, remove federal barriers driving up costs and protect the domestic production we already have. Food security is national security."

In the letter, Franklin called on USDA and Commerce to:

• Designate a senior official to coordinate the federal response and provide an action plan with specific steps and implementation timelines.
• Work with domestic suppliers, Canada and other reliable trading partners to increase sulfur supplies available to U.S. producers.
• Resolve transportation, storage and handling constraints and remove unnecessary federal barriers increasing costs or limiting availability.
• Accelerate eligible projects that expand sulfur recovery and logistics capacity or restore curtailed fertilizer production.
• Evaluate existing emergency authorities, including the Defense Production Act, and identify any additional authorities or appropriations needed from Congress.

Sulfur is used to produce sulfuric acid, an essential input in phosphate fertilizer manufacturing with no readily available substitute in the production process. According to the Florida Phosphate Council, the industry generates an estimated $5 billion in economic impact in the Tampa region. In Polk County and across Central Florida, phosphate operations support equipment suppliers, machine shops, maintenance contractors, transportation providers and other local businesses. Prolonged production cuts threaten supplier orders, contract work and workers' paychecks, with ripple effects throughout the local economy.

The crisis also threatens to deepen financial pressure on American farmers. According to an American Farm Bureau Federation survey, 70 percent of respondents could not afford the fertilizer they needed. Further production cuts risk tightening supplies, increasing costs and making the United States more dependent on foreign fertilizer producers.

Last month, Franklin led members of Florida's congressional delegation in urging President Trump and Secretary Lutnick to address rising sulfur costs and supply disruptions. He also joined the bipartisan effort that helped secure phosphate's inclusion on the U.S. critical minerals list in 2025.

Read the full letter here.

###