Fried Applauds USDA Fertilizer Investment and U.S. Beef Exports Remain High
With today’s Fruit Grower Report, I’m Bob Larson with your Agribusiness Update.
**In response to the USDA’s plans for a $250 million investment to support additional domestic fertilizer production for American farmers, Florida Ag Commissioner Nikki Fried offered support saying, we greatly appreciate the USDA’s commitment to making much-needed investments to support more American fertilizer production.
On March 11th, the USDA said it will support additional fertilizer production to address rising costs and spur competition.
www.fdacs.gov/News-Events/Press-Releases/2022-Press-Releases/Commissioner-Nikki-Fried-Shares-Fertilizer-Concerns-with-USDA
**Coming off a record-breaking performance in 2021, U.S. beef exports remained red-hot in January, according to the U.S. Meat Export Federation.
Beef exports totaled 119,066 metric tons, up 13% from a year ago, while value soared 57% to $1.03 billion.
This was the third-highest value total on record, trailing only August and November of last year, and export value per head of fed slaughter set a new record, exceeding $500 for
the first time.
**Lawmakers are raising their concern about record increases in fertilizer prices approaching the spring planting season.
19 Senators penned a letter to President Biden urging the administration to “immediately take all necessary steps to curtail the rising costs impacting American farmers and consumers.”
Considering Russia's role as a key producer of fertilizer and necessary inputs of fertilizer, its invasion of Ukraine and sanctions imposed are likely to cause shortages and price increases of fertilizer.
