Senators Marshall & Klobuchar Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Boost Domestic Fertilizer Production

Washington - On Thursday, U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minnesota) introduced theHomegrown Fertilizer Act, bipartisan legislation to strengthen America's domestic fertilizer supply chain, expand innovation in alternative crop inputs, and provide relief to farmers facing rising input costs.

The legislation prioritizes investments in small and mid-sized domestic fertilizer producers, encourages innovation in the next-generation nutrient alternatives, and increases competition to help lower costs for farmers across the country.

"Kansas farmers deserve a competitive, diverse fertilizer marketplace that doesn't leave them at the mercy of price spikes and supply disruptions," said Senator Marshall. "This bipartisan bill invests in American manufacturing, supports innovation in agricultural inputs, and puts more options in farmers' hands going into the spring growing season. I'm proud to lead this effort alongside Senator Klobuchar and look forward to working with our manufacturing and agriculture retailer communities to get it done."

"Investing in our domestic fertilizer supply is good for farmers and good for our national security. For too long, significant imports of fertilizer have meant farmers are impacted by shocks to the global supply chain. Farmers deserve reliable supply chains and increased domestic options in the fertilizer market so they can make informed decisions. This bipartisan bill will help stabilize fertilizer pricing, reduce supply disruptions, and ensure farmers can access affordable fertilizer to keep feeding and fueling the world," said Senator Klobuchar.

This bill has also earned strong support from Kansas agriculture leaders and producer organizations who recognize the urgent need to strengthen domestic fertilizer supply and reduce input costs.

"The Kansas Soybean Association thanks Senator Marshall for co-sponsoring the "Homegrown Fertilizer Act," which is designed to increase the availability of fertilizers produced in the United States. For many years, government policy has discouraged the domestic production of fertilizers needed for Kansas soybean farmers to successfully grow bountiful and profitable crops. Current global disruptions have dramatically increased the cost to agriculture. We support this legislation, which would expand U.S.-produced, tariff-free fertilizers that could lower input costs for Kansas farmers," said Kaleb Little, Kansas Soybean CEO.

Farmers continue to see input prices rise after years of this trend for critical crop inputs, especially fertilizer. We appreciate Senator Marshall's continued efforts to expand profit margins for sorghum producers," said Adam York,CEO of Kansas Sorghum.

"At a time with volatile prices and an inability to get the fertilizer that we need to raise a crops, this legislation is more important than ever. This will help the bottom line of producers and help get the inputs we need at a reasonable cost to continue farming," said Chris Tanner, Kansas Association of Wheat Growers President.

"Kansas Corn greatly appreciates Senator Marshall for recognizing issues that Kansas farmers are facing with extreme fluctuations in fertilizer prices due to supply chain issues around the world. Increasing domestic fertilizer production will help alleviate the fluctuations caused by disruptions that occur on the other side of the globe that farmers have no control over. We look forward to working with Senator Marshall and his colleagues to get this important piece of legislation through Congress and to the President's desk," said Josh Roe, CEO, Kansas Corn Growers Association.

This legislation will strengthen America's fertilizer supply chain by establishing a grant and loan program to boost domestic production and support small and mid-sized fertilizer producers. It will drive innovation in next-generation crop inputs, including plant biostimulants and alternative nutrients, while increasing competition in the marketplace.

By expanding farmer choice and reducing reliance on a concentrated set of suppliers, this bill will help lower input costs, reduce price volatility, and ensure U.S. agriculture remains competitive for the long term.

Background:

• Last year, Senator Marshall introduced the Plant Biostimulant Act, which seeks to provide regulatory certainty for biostimulant producers and farmers alike who are seeking out more options when considering their crop input investments.

Full text of the bill is available here.

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