ARA and TFI Praise Trump Administration’s Recognition of Potash as Critical, Push Same for Phosphate

ARA and TFI Praise Trump Administration’s Recognition of Potash as Critical, Push Same for Phosphate 
ARLINGTON, Va. – The Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) and the Fertilizer Institute (TFI) today praised the Trump Administration for the forward-thinking and decisive action of including potash on the official draft Critical Minerals list.

“Over half of all global phosphate production occurs in China and Russia,” said ARA President and CEO Daren Coppock. “China is no stranger to restricting its exports of phosphate, implementing a near-complete export pause in 2022 with significant export reductions still in effect. Designating phosphate as a critical mineral will only help our farmers grow the food that fills our dinner tables.”    

“This action by the Trump Administration to rightfully recognize potash as a critical mineral will support American farmers across the country, whom are under constant pressure to do more with less, by helping ensure high crop yields and stocked grocery store shelves,” said TFI president and CEO Corey Rosenbusch.

While potash was included on the draft list of Critical Minerals, ARA and TFI called on DOI Secretary Doug Burgum to also include phosphate, a similarly essential plant nutrient that is also subject to persistent supply chain challenges, on the final critical minerals list. Both organizations will continue to stress the importance of phosphate to Administration officials and lawmakers in Congress now that the August recess has ended.

“TFI and ARA are submitting comments in support of adding phosphate to the critical minerals list,” Rosenbusch continued. “We also will continue to emphasize with Secretary Burgum and Acting USGS Secretary Sarah Ryker about the essential nature of phosphate. There is no substitute for phosphate in the farmer’s toolbox and adding it to the critical minerals list will help strengthen domestic supply.”

The push to include phosphate on the list of critical minerals recently also came from Congress, with a bipartisan, bicameral letter in April led by Senators Joni Ernst (R-IA) and Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) and Representatives Kat Cammack (R-FL) and Jimmy Panetta (D-CA) urging Department of the Interior Secretary Burgum to take action by listing both phosphate and potash as critical minerals. The letter made the case that phosphate and potash clearly meet the criteria to be defined as a critical mineral and noted that, “…their significance for U.S. national security, food security, and American farmers is especially critical…”

“We thank the Administration, Congress, Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, and Secretary Burgum for working together and uniting a bipartisan voice to rightfully recognize the essential nature of potash,” concluded Rosenbusch. “Our two organizations look forward to continuing our efforts to have phosphate included, as well. Without these two minerals, modern agricultural systems would crumble and the ability to feed our growing population would be nearly impossible.”

Learn more about ARA here. 
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