Issues
The core purpose of The Fertilizer Institute is to bring the viewpoints and interests of its members to bear on public policy issues. Whether it is before Congress, federal agencies, foreign governments or the media, TFI ensures the industry's voice is heard. Key issues facing our industry today are detailed below.
Energy
The ongoing natural gas crisis is exacting a heavy toll on America's nitrogen fertilizer producers and the farmer customers they supply. The cost of natural gas — which is used as a feedstock in nitrogen production — accounts for as much as 90 percent of the cost of producing nitrogen fertilizer. Since the natural gas crisis began to manifest itself in 2000-2001, 25 ammonia nitrogen fertilizer plants have been permanently closed and an additional five have been idled. When natural gas prices rise rapidly, production facilities are sometimes temporarily idled due to the excessive cost and volatility of U.S. natural gas prices, jeopardizing hundreds of high paying jobs in local communities.
TFI supports federal policies that increase the supply of natural gas and eliminate disincentives for using conventional fuel sources such as coal and other forms of energy, and encourages the greater use of energy sources other than natural gas.
Security
TFI is actively engaged on the industry's security front. In addition to creating an industry voluntary security program, TFI is leading the industry in its efforts to keep ammonium nitrate for its intended positive use. TFI teamed with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Department of Homeland Security, and Association of American Plant Food Control Officials to create the "America's Security Begins with You" — a campaign aimed at security ammonium nitrate against criminal misuse. TFI supports record-keeping for anyone who handles ammonium nitrate. Campaign materials can be ordered from TFI's publications order form.
The fertilizer industry is working to adhere to new chemical security regualtions.
Methamphetamine
While there are many "recipes" to produce the illegal and highly addictive drug methamphetamine, one popular method uses anhydrous ammonia as a precursor ingredient. The fertilizer industry is being victimized by the criminal theft and misuse of its products and is fighting back by partnering with stakeholders including federal, state and local law enforcement officials.
Through the Fertilizer Industry Methamphetamine Task Force, The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) is adopting a multi-pronged strategy to keep beneficial fertilizer products out of the hands of criminals. The strategy focuses on increasing industry awareness of tactics for theft prevention and outreach to the research community and law enforcement officials.
Recent research has discovered GloTell, an additive that acts as a theft deterrent and leak detector, as well as calcium nitrate which renders anhydrous ammonia ineffective in the production of methamphetamine.
View "You, too, Can Work for a Drug Free America: Keep Anhydrous Ammonia Safe and Secure!" — which can be ordered from TFI's publications order form.
Transportation
Fertilizer is transported from manufacturing plants and terminals to the consumer by rail, truck, barge and pipeline. The transport of fertilizer regulated as a hazardous material is regulated at both the federal and state level. The U.S. Surface Transportation Board holds jurisdiction over the railroads and over rail mergers, another area of concern for the fertilizer industry. In the past, The Fertilizer Institute has worked to ensure the fertilizer industry's transportation concerns are addressed — whether hazmat, rail mergers or hours of service — on behalf of its members.
Trade
As an internationally-traded commodity, fertilizer is an important part of the U.S. and world export economy. In addition to serving U.S. farmers, fertilizer manufacturers serve customers around the globe. In fact, the United States exports fertilizers to 92 different countries. The members of The Fertilizer Institute support the removal or reduction of tariff and non-tariff barriers to fertilizer trade. In addition, TFI supports the continued availability of U.S. trade remedies laws to protect against unfair foreign subsidies.
TFI members believe free trade benefits both manufacturers and consumers of fertilizer products in the United States and around the world.
Nutrient Use
Soil, water and air are essential for growing food — and so are fertilizer nutrients. The United States’ fertilizer industry has a vested interest in managing our products to protect the environment and support the economic production of nutritious, abundant and affordable food. Our approach to nutrient management provides farmers with a variety of science-based best management practices (BMPs) to ensure the right product is applied at the right rate, right time and right place.
Our “Product Stewardship” brochure can be ordered from our publications order form.
Environment
The fertilizer industry faces environmental challenges on a wide variety of issues including air quality, water quality and issues specific to fertilizer manufacturing. For instance, the hypoxic zone in the Gulf of Mexico is believed to be caused in part by an excess of nutrients in the system. TFI supports environmentally-conscious efforts in the production and use of our products, while at the same time producing nutritious food for people. Modern farming practices are using fertilizer nutrients with increasing efficiency to build high yielding, nutritious crops. Maximizing production from existing agricultural areas not only feeds the world's growing population (almost 80 million per year), but also makes it possible for us to continue to use large areas of land for forests, parks and wildlife areas. TFI staff assists members with local, state, national, and international regulatory and compliance support.
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