Crop Fertility

Following years of abundant global supplies, an accident in early March made the industry nervous about supplies and production.

The completion of harvest followed by a wide open weather window led to higher-than-expected demand for fall applied fertilizers.

“Brazil will be a strategic focus for further expansion due to its large and growing agriculture retail and crop input market,” says Chuck Magro, Nutrien’s President and CEO.

At the beginning of January 2018, Mosaic Company announced it has completed the acquisition of Brazilian company Vale Fertilizantes.

In its first investor call on Feb. 5, Nutrien leaders caused speculation about whether or not they were closing potash mines.

In addition to many other suppliers, Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan Inc., has announced a temporarily cut in production at two mines.

The general trend of fertilizer prices through the third quarter was down.

“We’re going to see increased volatility on fertilizers,” Michaelsen says. “But you can stay profitable as long as you keep an eye on prices.”

On Global Fertilizer Day, international agricultural professionals gather to celebrate the key role that fertilizer plays in meeting the growing global demand for nutritious and sustainably-grown food.