Cornbelt:
The NPSZ market dropped to a wide $760-$850/st FOB range in the Cornbelt, depending on location.
All posts by mickeybarb@charter.net
Sulfate of Potash
Eastern Canada:
The SOP market in Eastern Canada remained at C$1,375-$1,480/mt FOB in early December, depending on location and supplier.
SOP Magnesia
Eastern Canada:
The SOP Magnesia market was unchanged at C$950-$1,020/mt FOB in the region, depending on grade, location, and supplier.
Potassium Thiosulfate
Eastern Cornbelt:
Potassium thiosulfate remained at $780/st FOB Terre Haute, Ind., for the last confirmed offers.
Crops/Weather
Eastern Cornbelt:
Scattered showers were reported across central and southern Illinois late in the week, with highs creeping up to the mid-40s. Mild temperatures and mixed precipitation were also reported in central Indiana late in the week, while fog and light rain moved through northern Ohio on Dec. 8.
Mixed precipitation was also in southern Michigan’s forecast as the week advanced, with some areas expecting to pick up an inch or two of snow by the weekend.
Western Cornbelt:
Dry conditions prevailed across much of Iowa during the week, although rain, freezing rain, and scattered snow showers worked their way across most of the state on Dec. 8. Winter weather advisories were in effect for northern Nebraska and northwestern Iowa on Dec. 8-9, with forecasts warning of 4-6 inches of snow possible for parts of northern Iowa.
Much of southern Missouri was under a dense fog advisory on Dec. 6, with rainfall reported across a wide swath of the state on Dec. 7-8. Parts of southern Missouri reportedly picked up an inch of precipitation at midweek.
Sources reported “a little fall business” still moving to the field in some parts of the region, but the incoming weather was expected to halt activity late in the week.
Northern Plains:
A winter weather advisory was in effect on Dec. 8-9 for southern South Dakota and southwestern Minnesota, with forecasts warning of freezing rain and up to 2-4 inches of snow in some locations. A second system was expected to bring more scattered snow flurries to parts of eastern Minnesota on Dec. 10.
North Dakota residents were also bracing for snowfall and frigid temperatures during the week. Forecasts warned of an additional two inches of snow in the Bismarck-Mandan area, with temperatures dropping to subzero lows at midweek. Highs in the 20s were expected by the coming weekend.
Northeast:
Highs were in the upper-40s and low-50s across much of New England, but lower temperatures and an increased chance of rain and snow showers were in the weekend forecast.
Rain and snow were also reported in Pennsylvania as the week progressed. Temperatures in Maryland were in the mid-50s during the week, but slightly cooler weather and spotty showers were in the weekend forecast.
Eastern Canada:
Ontario residents were bracing for rain and snow over the coming weekend, with the heaviest snow accumulation expected north of Highways 401 and 407. Extreme cold warnings were also in effect for parts of northern Ontario during the week, with wind chills falling to a negative 38-46 C in Dryden, Vermilion Bay, and Fort Severn.
Parts of Quebec and the Maritimes were hit with strong winds and heavy rain earlier in December, causing widespread power outages in the region. Most high wind warnings were lifted by Dec. 5, however.
Fall fertilizer application was largely complete across Eastern Canada, although some sources reported ongoing movement in early December in areas missed by the recent storms and precipitation.
Transportation
US Gulf:
Harvey Lock, closed since Oct. 2 due to low water on the lower section of the Mississippi River, remained shut to travel for the week, Corps lock data indicated. Algiers Lock was recommend as an alternate route.
A guidewall replacement project in progress at Bayou Sorrel Lock since Aug. 1 interrupted Monday-through-Friday travel between 6:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., resulting in waits up to 25 hours on Dec. 6. Work at the site was scheduled to continue through February 2023.
Algiers Lock tows remained subject to restricted lengths and widths for unassisted lockages, limiting vessels to four standard barges or two 30,000 mt tankers per turn. Larger passes were possible when traveling with an assist tug. Corps data showed wait times topping out at 13-22 hours during the week.
Calcasieu Lock is scheduled to close to daytime navigation on Dec. 4-19, with delays expected. The site is slated to undergo additional closures in January 2023.
Belle Chasse Bridge construction was expected to wrap up at the end of the year. Located at Mile 3 of the West Canal, wait times at that location have been noted up to 12 hours.
Intermittent 5-16 hour delays were observed at Port Allen Lock during the week. Corps data showed wait times up to 32 hours at Industrial Lock, while 14-18 hour waits were noted at Calcasieu Lock on Dec. 6-7. Boats Locking through Brazos Lock were delayed up to 16 hours.
Mississippi River:
Low water continued to impact travel on the lower Mississippi River during the week, tightening draft limits on solid cargoes to 8.5 feet for the full length of the waterway. Drafts were previously set at 8.5 feet between St. Louis and Cairo, Ill., and at 9.0 feet from Cairo to the Gulf. Drafts for liquid cargoes continued to be restricted to 8.5 feet.
River levels at Memphis, Tenn., lifted to 1.47 feet on Dec. 7, and were projected to crest at 1.9 feet on Dec. 8-9 before receding to approximately (-)3.0 feet on Dec. 21. The St. Louis gauge was at (-)0.04 feet and falling on Dec. 7, with readings expected at (-)4.10 feet on Dec. 21. Additional travel restrictions are anticipated if the St. Louis gauge falls below the (-)4.0-foot mark.
Repairs to the I-10 bridge prompted a safety advisory at Miles 228-230 of the lower river. Work at the site was anticipated to continue through June 2023. Revetment projects at Miles 100 and 139 were scheduled to run through December, while a channel reinforcement effort at Miles 192-193 is on the books for January.
The St. Louis Harbor area was shut at the upper river’s Mile 170 on Dec. 6-7 for dredging. Mile 102 was closed to daylight navigation Dec. 4-14 for dredging, leaving vessels to pass overnight. Dredging at Mile 345 of the lower river was scheduled to conclude on Dec. 6. The dredge was expected to move to Mile 541 next.
Lock 15 passages required up to 10 hours during the week. Corps data showed intermittent 25-27 hour delays at Mel Price Lock, while Chain of Rocks Lock saw waits up to 21 hours on Dec. 6-7.
Illinois River:
Raised wickets remained in effect at Peoria Lock and LaGrange Lock during the week due to low water levels, forcing tows to lock through both locations. Passages through LaGrange Lock were reported in the 5-19 hour range. Delays were noted up to 11 hours through Starved Rock Lock.
Northbound access to Lockport Lock was restricted on Dec. 6-7 due to preparations for upcoming concrete wall repairs. LaGrange Lock was shut from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 pm. on Dec. 6. Dredging at Miles 147-148 was slated to continue until further notice, impacting Monday-through-Friday travel between 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.
Ohio River:
Low water conditions persisted on the Ohio River, prompting 9.0-foot draft restrictions for the full length of the waterway. Similar draft limits were also in place for the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers.
The Montgomery Lock primary chamber is shut through Dec. 16 for repairs and maintenance. Tows have been forced to lock one barge at a time through the secondary chamber, resulting in wait times swelling to 10-13 days.
Olmsted Lock travel was subject to intermittent 11-15 hour delays during the week due to low water levels and an emerging sandbar. Wait times at the Tennessee River’s Kentucky Lock topped out at 12 hours during the week. Most Wilson Lock passages required 13-22 hours to complete.
Arkansas River:
Norrell Lock is scheduled for a full shutdown on Jan. 30-31, 2023, blocking travel through the site for a 48-hour period.
Nutrien AG Solutions Faces Suit Over Discharging Polluted Water
Nutrien AG Solutions Inc. faces a Clean Water Act lawsuit filed by an environmental group that alleges that the fertilizer company polluted nearby waterways, according to Bloomberg Law. Central Valley Eden Environmental Defenders LLC claims that Nutrien AG stores industrial materials outdoors, exposing them to stormwater and contaminating the surrounding watershed.
The polluted water then flows into the lower Mokelumne River, the group claimed in its lawsuit, filed Wednesday, Dec. 7, in the US District Court for the Central District of California.
Nutrien failed to implement a sufficient Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan and has an inadequate monitoring program at its facility, in violation of its General Permit requirements, the group said.
The plaintiffs are seeking an injunction ordering Nutrien to immediately operate its facility in compliance with permitting requirements, enjoin Nutrien from discharging pollutants to surface waters surrounding its facility, civil penalties of $56,460 per day per violation, attorneys’ fees and other litigation costs.
“Nutrien is committed to conducting business with integrity. While we are aware of the claims filed on this matter and are reviewing the complaint, because it involves ongoing litigation, we are unable to comment further at this time,” a Nutrien spokesman told Green Markets.
GreenTechnologies Receives USDA Funding for New Fertilizer Coating Technology
GreenTechnologies LLC, Jacksonville, Fla., reported on Nov. 30 that its research and commercialization project for a new Reactive Layer Coating (RLC) technology for bio-based fertilizers has been awarded a Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) Phase II Award of $649,875 from the USDA. This award follows the USDA SBIR Phase I grant of $99,780 awarded to GreenTechnologies in 2021.
GreenTechnologies will develop pilot-scale manufacturing capabilities to produce and commercialize its new product line, GreenEdge® RLC, to expand its existing markets, which include lawn and landscape, professional turf, agriculture, greenhouse, and horticulture. The patented technology uses an in-situ process that creates a reactive layer between the mineral coating and the organic base.
The company said the process offers competitive advantages over existing technologies and products on the market. These include conservation of natural resources, reduced potential nutrient run-off, extended nutrient retention in soil for plant uptake, increased nutrient content of organic fertilizers, balanced ratio of NPK, and improved safety and handling characteristics. In addition, the technology allows for customization of products to meet specific agronomic nutrient needs.
Mexico Extends Suspension of Fines on Ammonium Sulfate Imports
The Mexico Economy Ministry said in a statement it extended the suspension of fines on ammonium sulfate imports from the US and China to Nov. 24, 2023, according to a Bloomberg report. “The government of Mexico continues with the implementation of actions to combat inflation,” said the statement.
The suspension was supposed to end on Nov. 24, 2022. The fines started in 2015 “because unfair international trade practices were identified,” the ministry said in the statement.
Netherlands to Buy Out Farmers Amid Pushback Over Nitrogen Goals
The Netherlands has announced plans to buy out hundreds of farms near nature reserves, an attempt to quell the fury of Dutch farmers over the country’s goal of halving nitrogen emissions by 2030, according to a Bloomberg report.
The government will acquire large nitrogen emitters as part of a voluntary and one-time offer, said Nitrogen Minister Christianne van der Wal-Zeggelink in a letter to the Parliament in the Hague. The cabinet has set aside €24.3 billion to fund the transition.
The target, designed to comply with European Union rules on reducing nitrogen pollution, prompted uproar among farmers shortly after it was first presented in June. If implemented, the government’s plan would require cuts of as much of 95% in emissions in some provinces and see the livestock population in the Netherlands reduced by a third over the next eight years.
The protests drew global headlines this summer as farm-owners brought their cows to the Hague, blocking roads and prompting the agriculture minister to quit.
If not enough farmers sell their businesses, then the government may have to force some of them out of business, Prime Minister Mark Rutte said on Nov. 25.