The Iowa Soybean Association has asked the state’s Congressional delegation for relief from a U.S. International Trade Council ruling that will further drive up fertilizer prices. ISA President Jeff Jorgenson says the ITC just ruled that imports of phosphate fertilizer from Russia and Morocco were causing harm to the U.S. and countervailing duties will be applied for the next five years. He says they are opposed to that move.
The Mosaic Company petitioned the ITC to enforce the duties which Jorgenson says will have a negative impact on the availability of phosphate fertilizer in the U.S. and could push prices up by more than $80 per ton.
Jorgenson says if there is no legislative or legal remedy farmers will be forced to cut their fertilizer applications to save money, which cuts production.
The American Soybean Association joined National Corn Growers Association and National Cotton Council of America in filing the comments to USITC Feb. 17.
