Congressman Eric Sorensen Fights for Cost Transparency for Illinois Farmers

WASHINGTON, DC - Congressman Eric Sorensen (IL-17) joined a bipartisan group of lawmakers to introduce the Fertilizer Transparency Actto help provide Illinois farmers with more certainty and better information about fertilizer prices. This legislation would require the U.S. Department of Agriculture to create a mandatory price reporting system to offer market participants of all sizes with comparable levels of market information on fertilizer components, including nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium fertilizer products.

"I'm introducing the bipartisan Fertilizer Transparency Act to provide more certainty and help Illinois farmers make the most cost-effective decisions possible with access to clear data about the cost of fertilizer," said Congressman Eric Sorensen. "Right now, farmers in my district are struggling. Fertilizer costs were already rising and now are climbing higher because of Trump's war with Iran. At the same time, commodity prices continue to drop. With this legislation, we're working across the aisle to provide family farmers with long overdue transparency to ensure fair pricing."

"During this difficult economic time for Illinois corn farmers, we are looking for opportunities to provide more tools and more information that will help family farms navigate the turbulent and increasingly expensive fertilizer marketplace. The Fertilizer Transparency Act would accomplish an important need: farmers will have access to fertilizer pricing, allowing them to better understand domestic and international fertilizer supplies and the impacts at their local retailer. The IL Corn Growers Association is grateful for this bipartisan proposal," said Mark Bunselmeyer, President, IL Corn Growers Association.

U.S. Senator John Thune (R-S.D.) introducedthis legislation in the Senate.

Congressman Eric Sorensen represents Illinois' 17^th District in the United States House of Representatives. Prior to serving in Congress, Sorensen was a local meteorologist in Rockford and the Quad Cities for more than 20 years. His district includes Illinois' Quad Cities, Rockford, Peoria, and Bloomington-Normal.

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