Will More American-Made Fertilizer Mean Lower Costs?

Could a fertilizer manufacturing expansion in California eventually help bring down costs for growers? That's the goal behind a new round of federal funding, including a project in Fresno County.

According to an October 22nd USDA press release, True Organic Products has been selected for approximately 15 million dollars in proposed federal funding toward a 30-million-dollar expansion.

That includes a facility in Helm, California, along with locations in Oregon and Arizona.

The company plans to use agricultural byproducts to produce fertilizer, with the three-state project expected to support nearly 143,000 tons of annual production.

Nationwide, eight selected projects represent more than 1.3 billion dollars in proposed public and private investment.

USDA estimates the additional production could eventually reduce nitrogen fertilizer prices by about four percent and potash prices by about five percent.

But those savings aren't guaranteed. The projects still have to move through the funding process and become operational before any potential impact on prices can be realized.