The Iowa Corn Growers Association (ICGA) continues to prioritize creating profitability for corn farmers. Within the last couple of years, ICGA has pressured the fertilizer industry to address rising corn fertilizer costs for our farmers. We will continue that push until solutions are found.
Over four years ago, Iowa Corn was already raising concerns. In December 2021, ICGA signed onto a letter to Mosaic asking them to withdraw their request for protective tariffs on phosphate coming into the U.S. That same month, ICGA put together a letter to then Attorney General Tom Miller to look into fertilizer pricing matters.
Iowa Corn knew there would not be a quick or simple solution, and the ICGA Board made corn fertilizer cost a top priority for our organization. The Iowa Corn government relations team has worked on this issue continuously since.
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON HIGH CORN FERTILIZER COSTS
In the summer of 2022, ICGA continued meeting with our Congressional members to discuss the concerns around fertilizer prices.
ICGA farmer leaders hosted a roundtable with Senator Joni Ernst’s team to hear farmers’ concerns about historically high corn fertilizer costs per acre and the strain it puts on farm budgets. Other attendees at the roundtable included area farmers, government officials, state legislators and industry representatives.
ICGA leaders shared the impact high input prices have on farmers’ operating costs and possible solutions. Shortly after, Iowa Corn worked with Congressman Randy Feenstra and provided input for him to testify in front of the International Trade Commission (ITC), encouraging them to reduce tariffs on fertilizer imports.
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