Ernst Pushes to Reduce Fertilizer Costs for Farmers

Apr 30, 2026

U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) took action to lower the cost of fertilizer for Iowa farmers by joining her colleagues to introduce the Lowering Input Costs for American Farmers Act.

Mirroring her previous recommendations to the U.S. Department of Commerce in 2020 and 2023, this legislation would eliminate tariffs and countervailing duties on phosphate fertilizer imports from Morocco, delivering direct relief to farmers facing rising input costs.

“There is no substitute for the invaluable work our farmers do to feed and fuel the world,” said Senator Ernst. “From securing the addition of phosphate and potash to the U.S. Critical Minerals List to pushing for research on the fertilizer market, I’ve consistently put Iowa farmers first. By joining Senator Marshall’s Lowering Input Costs for American Farmers Act, I’m proud to once again stand up for our agriculture community to drive down fertilizer costs and make life more affordable for both farmers and consumers.”

The legislation would:

Eliminate tariffs on phosphate fertilizer and related products from Morocco
End the April 7, 2021, countervailing duty order on phosphate fertilizer imports from Morocco
Restore access to competitively priced phosphate fertilizer for U.S. producers

Source : senate.gov

Video: Evolution of Beef Cattle Farming

The Clear Conversations podcast took to the road for a special episode recorded in Nashville during CattleCon, bringing listeners straight into the heart of the cattle industry. Host Tracy Sellers welcomed rancher Steve Wooten of Beatty Canyon Ranch in Colorado for a wide-ranging discussion that blended family history and sustainability, particularly as it relates to the future of beef production.

Sustainability emerged as a central theme of the conversation, a word that Wooten acknowledges can mean very different things depending on who you ask. For him, sustainability starts with the soil. Healthy soil produces healthy grass, which supports efficient cattle capable of producing year after year with minimal external inputs. It’s an approach that equally considers vegetation, animal efficiency, and long-term profitability.

That philosophy aligned naturally with Wooten’s involvement in the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, where he served as a representative for the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. The roundtable brings together the entire beef supply chain—from producers to retailers—along with universities, NGOs, and allied industries. Its goal is not regulation, Wooten emphasized, but collaboration, shared learning, and continuous improvement.