With Fertilizer Costs Crushing Iowa Farmers, Ernst, Grassley Urge Biden Admin to Prioritize Lasting Trade Relationships

WASHINGTON— In a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai, U.S. Senators Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) are urging for affordable and accessible inputs for America’s farmers and agriculture workers.

The letter, led by Senator Roger Marshall (R-Kansas), comes in response to the tenacious trade relationship with fertilizer-producing nations like China, Russia, and Belarus, that have become increasingly difficult to arbitrate. The senators are imploring the Ambassador to prioritize our producers’ fertilizer needs immediately.

The senators say: “We write today to urge you to develop and begin executing a strategic plan for the long-term stability of fertilizer trade for our farmers and ranchers. Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine is sparking concerns over famine in Africa and the Middle East. Societies dependent on agriculture are keenly aware of the threat of food insecurity. Big agrarian nations like Brazil are already acting to re-draw global trade routes, especially regarding fertilizer, to ensure the productivity of their nation and address the needs of a starving world. We must do the same.”

Background:

Last week, Ernst pressed U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack, the former Governor of Iowa, over what the Biden administration plans to do to address sky-high fertilizer costs.

Click HERE to the read the full text of the letter.

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