Riley Introduces Fertilizer Pricing Bill as Iran War Drives Up Costs for Farmers

The Bipartisan Fertilizer Transparency Act Would Give New York Farmers the Information They Need to Plan Ahead

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Josh Riley (NY-19) helped introduce the bipartisan Fertilizer Transparency Act, legislation to require the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to establish a mandatory weekly reporting program for fertilizer prices and quantities sold across the country.

"Farmers in New York's 19th district are already up against the wall - unpredictable weather, volatile markets, and now a war halfway around the world is spiking the cost of the fertilizer they depend on every season. That's not fair, and it's not something our farmers should have to navigate blind. The Fertilizer Transparency Act gives them the market information they need to plan, to budget, and to keep food on the tables of families across this country. This is common-sense, bipartisan legislation that will make a real difference for agriculture in New York." - Rep. Josh Riley

The energy-rich Middle East plays a central role in global fertilizer production. The ongoing war in Iran is disrupting shipping routes and backing up fertilizer shipments near the Strait of Hormuz - a critical chokepoint through which nearly a third of the world's fertilizer supply passes. Rising natural gas prices, a key input in fertilizer manufacturing, are adding to production costs. These compounding disruptions are raising expenses for American farmers and could drive up grocery prices for consumers nationwide.

Currently, USDA collects fertilizer pricing data only annually and voluntarily. Under the new legislation, manufacturers and wholesalers would be required to report weekly prices and quantities for nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. USDA would publish the data weekly through a publicly accessible dashboard at the national, regional, and state levels. The Agricultural Marketing Service would also conduct weekly retail price surveys and provide regional benchmarks to help farmers estimate local costs. Cooperatives and retail fertilizer sellers that are not manufacturers are exempt from the reporting requirements.

The Fertilizer Transparency Act is cosponsored by Representatives Dusty Johnson (R-SD), Angie Craig (D-MN), Brad Finstad (R-MN), Randy Feenstra (R-IA), Nikki Budzinski (D-IL), Zach Nunn (R-IA), Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), Ashley Hinson (R-IA), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA), and Eric Sorensen (D-IL). Senator John Thune (R-SD) introduced companion legislation in the Senate.

The full text of the bill is available here.

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