The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) has urged an immediate resolution to Canada’s ongoing rail disruptions, warning that they will have significant and lasting impacts on the agricultural supply chain. TFI President and CEO Corey Rosenbusch highlighted the important role rail transportation plays in North America, particularly for the fertilizer and agriculture sectors, and stressed that even short disruptions can have widespread ripple effects.
Also read: U.S. port and Canadian rail strikes threaten North American supply chains
Rosenbusch pointed out that fertilizers, especially potash fertilizers, are essential for a good harvest and must be delivered to farmers on time. Canada is the world’s largest producer of potash fertilizers and a major supplier of nitrogen fertilizers to the United States. The railway outage may affect the timely delivery of these basic agricultural inputs.
TFI, along with 34 other U.S. agricultural industry associations, called on leaders of both countries to intervene and quickly resolve the issue to prevent further disruptions to cross-border supply chains. Rosenbusch also stressed the need for U.S. policymakers to recognize the seriousness of the situation and advocate for a swift resolution.
The rail disruptions also exposed the vulnerability of the U.S. supply chain, particularly its reliance on Canadian potash fertilizer, which is not currently listed as a critical mineral by the U.S. Geological Survey. Rosenbusch believes this oversight should be reconsidered given the potential risks highlighted by the rail disruptions.
Finally, Rosenbusch reiterated the importance of safeguarding the supply chain of essential agricultural products, noting that food security is an integral part of national security and urged immediate action to protect the agricultural sector from future challenges.
Leave a Reply Cancel reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.