Three Wisconsin Congressional Representatives Asking White House to Intervene on Global Trade

Sunday, June 5th, 2022 -- 8:01 AM

(Wisconsin Ag Connection) A group of six Republican Congressional representatives, including three from Wisconsin, are asking the White House to intervene in the global trade situation that's causing higher fertilizer prices.

According to the Wisconsin Ag Connection, in a letter to President Biden last week, Reps. Bryan Steil, Tom Tiffany and Glenn Grothman expressed their concerns about the record high cost of fertilizer impacting American farmers, thus causing food prices to become inflated.

"Record high fertilizer costs are punching farmers in the face. Whether it is the rising cost of gas and now the spike in fertilizer costs, our farmers cannot keep up," the memo stated. "We cannot continue to punish American producers with record high costs. It's time for this Administration to change course, unleash American energy, and resolve these record price increases."

In February, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service found an annual price increase of 235 percent for anhydrous ammonia, 149 percent for urea, and 192 percent for liquid nitrogen.

Meanwhile, the lawmakers also called out Samantha Power, who is Biden's director of the U.S. Agency for International Development for comments she made recently about the fertilizer crises.

They claim that during an interview in response to a question on global food shortages Powers said 'we're working with countries to think about natural solutions like manure and compost... and this may hasten transitions that would have been in the interest of farmers to make eventually anyway. So never let a good crisis go to waste.'

"We ask that you clarify your administration's position on the fertilizer crisis," the letter continued. "Is the official position of your administration that the spike in fertilizer prices is a positive outcome? If not, will you be asking Director Power to retract her statement?”

Also signing the letter were Reps. Trent Kelly of Mississippi, Lisa McClain of Michigan, and Ann Wagner of Missouri.

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