Idaho mine important for Roundup production

Farm and Ranch August 24, 2009 The Idaho Farm Bureau Federation is urging people in agriculture to express their support for Monsanto’s permit for a new phosphate mine in Idaho. The mine will produce elemental phosphorous, a key ingredient in Roundup brand herbicides. The Bureau of Land Management is seeking comments on a draft Environmental Impact Statement for the mine.

The Blackfoot Bridge Mine in southeast Idaho will allow Monsanto’s wholly owned subsidiary, P4 Production LLC, to continue its production of elemental phosphorus. Monsanto says that since the introduction of Roundup in 1976, its phosphorous supply has primarily come from Idaho. The company says continuing mining operations at Blackfoot Bridge ensures farmers will be able to maintain a U.S. source for Roundup. Of course the mine also means jobs for Idaho. You can learn more about how to comment at the Idaho Farm Bureau website.

Speaking of jobs, the Fertilizer Institute has just released a report on the fertilizer industry’s economic impact and the jobs its supports.

West: “We have about 25-thousand jobs in our industry. Good paying jobs.”

That’s Fertilizer Institute President Ford West during a recent visit to the Pacific Northwest. Those 25-thousand jobs West mentioned are only the direct jobs. The study released Friday says the U.S. fertilizer industry supports 244-thousand jobs directly and indirectly, adding nearly 58 billion dollars in value to the U.S. economy.

Ford West says the U.S. Senate needs to keep an eye toward the potential loss of these jobs if climate change legislation leads to higher energy prices.

I’m Bob Hoff and that’s the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report on the Northwest Ag Information Network.

idahofb.org