Yara’s fertilizer terminal at Stockton, California. (Sebastian Braum photo, Yara.com)

Yara brings most European ammonia production back on stream

Rising fertilizer prices make resumption profitable

Oslo | Reuters — Yara has brought most of its European ammonia production back on line after prices of finished fertilizers rose to make up for a surge in the cost of gas, the Norwegian fertilizer manufacturer said on Wednesday. The company cut back ammonia production at a number of sites in Europe from September […] Read more

The Blair’s agro centre at Lipton, Sask. (Blairs.ag)

Buyer found for ag retailer Blair’s contested outlet

ProSoils to buy Blair's location at Lipton, Sask.

Crop input retail chain Blair’s Crop Solutions has a deal in place to sell one of its eastern Saskatchewan sites to meet its obligation to federal regulators. The chain, a joint venture between Federated Co-operatives and the Blair’s Family of Companies, announced Monday it will sell its site at Lipton, Sask., about 80 km west […] Read more

(Alexey Rezvykh/iStock/Getty Images)

Farmers ask U.S. Justice Department to probe fertilizer price spikes

Reuters — Farmers have asked the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate whether recent spikes in fertilizer prices are attributable to market manipulation by fertilizer companies, according to a letter sent Wednesday by the Family Farm Action Alliance. The group, which has more than 6,000 farmer and rural members, alleges fertilizer companies are setting prices […] Read more

Incentives, in addition to continued education efforts, will be important for meeting GHG emission reduction targets, U of G researchers say.

Reduced fertilizer emissions possible through incentives

Better application technology, more widespread 4R management and better understanding of nutrient availability are vital

Major reductions in fertilizer-based greenhouse gas emissions are possible through 4R nutrient management, according to research from the University of Guelph. However, such reductions require growers to understand what nutrients are already present in soil, what portion is likely to be available for crops in the growing season and the significance of overapplication. Support for […] Read more

CF Industries’ UAN plant at Donaldsonville in Louisiana. The company also makes UAN at plants in Ontario, Iowa and Oklahoma. (Thyssenkrupp-industrial-solutions.com)

Fertilizer shortage may lead to spring scramble

'It's next year's prices I'm worried about'

Reuters — A global shortage of nitrogen fertilizer is driving prices to record levels, prompting North America’s farmers to delay purchases and raising the risk of a spring scramble to apply the crop nutrient before planting season. The Texas Arctic Blast in February and Hurricane Ida in August disrupted U.S. fertilizer production. Then, prices of […] Read more


Are proposed cuts to fertilizer applications to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions as damaging to crop yields as a recent report concludes?

Opinion: Better framework for fertilizer discussion needed

Assuming a direct correlation between reduced product use and yields is overly simplistic

Fertilizer Canada, which represents companies that produce and sell fertilizer products, certainly got people’s attention late last month when it said proposed cuts to fertilizer use could cost Canadian farmers $48 billion.  That’s a big number, albeit an estimate spread over the next decade or so. It’s based on tallying up the cost of lower […] Read more

Lowering fertilizer use should come in ways that don’t reduce the capacity for yield increase in crops.

Are greenhouse gas emission reduction goals too costly?

Reducing fertilizer use might be a tough target without cutting production and incomes, says industry

Glacier FarmMedia – A recent report prepared by accounting firm Meyers Norris Penny says Canadian farmers could lose $48 billion over the next eight years if the federal government moves ahead with plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from on-farm fertilizer use by 30 per cent. In its report entitled Implications of a Total Emissions […] Read more

In response to growing public concern over farmers’ use of fertilizer, Lemken has introduced the MicroHub 5 applicator that spreads microgranules directly into the seed row.

Lemken MicroHub 5 adds microgranules

The change aims to provide more precision application of fertilizer

Glacier FarmMedia – The latest version of the Azurit MicroHub 5 precision drill can apply microgranules as well as soybeans and sunflower seeds.  As fertilizer efficiency gets more public attention, Lemken has increased its research and development into more efficient fertilizer equipment. The MicroHub 5 is the latest piece designed specifically with this factor in […] Read more


Visualization of DNA sequencing.

Machine learning uncovers ‘genes of importance’ in agriculture

Science Notes: Technology can also predict additional traits in plants, disease outcomes in animals

Machine learning can pinpoint “genes of importance” that help crops to grow with less fertilizer, according to a new study published in Nature Communications.  It can also predict additional traits in plants and disease outcomes in animals, illustrating its applications beyond agriculture. Using genomic data to predict outcomes in agriculture and medicine is both a promise and […] Read more

Bayer’s cross symbol hangs in a terminal at Frankfurt International Airport. (Typhoonski/iStock Editorial/Getty Images)

Bayer sees farmers pre-buying inputs as supply-chain snarls continue

Chicago/Berlin | Reuters — U.S. farmers are pre-buying seeds and chemicals they need earlier than normal, in a bid to secure supplies for next spring amid sector-wide supply-chain problems, a top executive at German agricultural and pharmaceuticals firm Bayer said Tuesday. Bayer also estimates its average seed prices will go up about five per cent […] Read more