WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Mike Rounds, R-S.D., John Hoeven, R-N.D., Steve Daines, R-Mont., along with other Republican senators, signed onto a letter President Joe Biden to take “all necessary steps” to control the rising cost of fertilizer impacting farmers and consumers.

The letter also went to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo, Secretary of Interior Deb Haaland and U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai.

“We are writing to express my serious concern regarding record-high fertilizer prices impacting American farmers going into the spring planting season,” said a letter dated March 11, 2022 that was signed onto by 19 senators.

”Fertilizer is a primary input and major expense for producers across the country, and price increases will have a significant effect on farm profitability and the prices of food and consumer products,” the senators wrote.

Since January 2021, according to the most recent data from the United States Department of Agricultural Marketing Services, the prices of key fertilizers and other farm inputs have substantially increased as follows: anhydrous ammonia (by 203%); Urea (by 141%); liquid nitrogen (162%); monoammonium phosphate (MAP) (by 74%); potash (by 125%); and farm diesel (by 95%).

“Ongoing supply-chain bottlenecks and the rising cost of energy are among the factors sending fertilizer prices soaring, and disruptions stemming from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine will only compound the problem. As a result, Americans will pay more at restaurants, grocery stores, and other places,” the letter said.

The senators said that — considering Russia’s role as a key producer of fertilizer and necessary inputs of fertilizer — its invasion of Ukraine and sanctions imposed on the country are “likely to cause shortages and price increases of fertilizer.”

“These potential disruptions, coupled with skyrocketing energy prices precipitated by President Biden’s war on the American oil and gas industry, will harm American farmers and in turn, American consumers,” they wrote.

The senators asked Biden to “review all available options” to lower the cost of fertilizer, including but not limited to “eliminating the cross-border vaccine mandate for transporters of essential commerce; engaging stakeholders to prevent a Canadian Pacific Railway strike; ensuring agricultural minerals like phosphate and potash are part of the Department of the Interior’s List of Critical Minerals; increasing U.S. gas production; and approving pending export permits at the Department of Energy for Liquefied Natural Gas.”

Other signatories included Bill Hagerty, R-Tenn.; John Boozman, R-Ark.; John Cornyn, R-Texas; Bill Cassidy, R-La.; Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo.; John Barasso, R-Wyo.; Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn.; Ted Cruz, R-Texas; Thom Tillis, R-N.C.; James M. Inhofe, R-Okla.; Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa; Tom Cotton, R-Ark.; Roger Marshall, R-Kans.