Washington–Commercial Fertilizers 2008 has been finalized and copies are now available. The publication is a cooperative effort between The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) and the Association of American Plant Food Control Officials (AAPFCO), and is based on fertilizer consumption data submitted by state fertilizer control officials. The report’s basic findings show a 6.3 percent decline in U.S. fertilizer nutrient consumption, to 21.47 million tons for the fertilizer year (FY) ending June 30, 2008. Specifically, the report found that in FY2007/08, nitrogen consumption decreased 4.8 percent to 12.56 million nutrient tons (MNT), phosphate consumption decreased 7.1 percent to 4.25 MNT, and potash consumption decreased 9.2 percent to 4.66 MNT. The report also found that total gross tonnage declined 4.7 percent, to 54.85 million tons of material. That figure includes single, multiple, and micro-nutrient materials, as well as organic and secondary materials. The report’s findings are categorized by state or, in select cases, by region. The report’s data covers total fertilizer sales or shipments for farm and non-farm use, but does not include information regarding liming materials, peat, potting soils, soil amendments, soil additives, and soil conditioners. In addition, materials used for the manufacture or blending of reported fertilizer grades, or for use in other fertilizers, have been excluded to avoid duplicate reporting. Hard copies of the report are now available and can be ordered on TFI’s website at www.tfi.org. The report is not available in electronic format. The cost of the report is $30 per copy for members of TFI and AAPFCO, and $100 per copy for non-members. All proceeds from the sale of the report go to AAPFCO to support the data collection effort.

Ames, Iowa-Iowa State researchers, looking to the day when fossil fuels needed for fertilizer and operating farms won’t be so cheap, have found that changing crop rotation can make a big difference in both areas without sacrificing yields or profits. “I think many farmers recognize that what we do now derives in a large part from relatively inexpensive energy,” said Agronomy Professor Matt Liebman. “And if that system changes, then we may have to re-evaluate what’s the best system for our land and our climate.” Liebman and his colleagues compared a conventionally managed two-year corn/soybean rotation system with two systems that they refer to as low external input: a three-year corn/soybean/small grain plus red clover system, and a four-year system of corn/soybean/small grain plus alfalfa. Synthetic nitrogen use was 59 percent lower in the three-year and 74 percent lower in the four-year system than in the two-year system. Herbicide use was reduced 76 and 82 percent, respectively. Corn and soybean yields were as high or higher, and weed biomass in corn and soybean was low. Orvin Bontrager, a veteran farming adviser with Servi-Tech Inc.’s crop and environmental consultants, cautioned in a published report on the research that although there is a savings on the energy, there might not be enough labor to handle the additional crops if most farms switched to the new system. He conceded that “if the price of oil does get that high, fertilizer and chemicals obviously get a lot higher. And if the prices of crops do not follow along, then obviously we will be going to something like this because it just makes economic sense to do that.”

Yuma, Ariz.-Gowan Company LLC announced on June 1 the formation of Gowan USA LLC (GUSA), a wholly-owned subsidiary with its sole focus on the U.S. agriculture and turf & ornamental crop protection product business. GUSA will be headquartered in Overland Park, Kan., and will be comprised of Domestic USA Sales, Tech Services, and Field Development. “Gowan USA, LLC will continue to provide best-in-class products with sound agronomic and technical recommendations for all of the key U.S. ag and T&O market segments,” said Steve Petersen, president of Gowan USA. “With the new Gowan USA entity, we will be in position to increase the focus and velocity to add new products that will create solutions for the U.S. producers.” Gowan Company is a family-owned registrant and marketer of crop protection products.

Davis, Calif.-USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is putting to work nearly $12 million from farm bill conservation programs this year to help California dairy and other livestock farmers manage and use manure from their animals to fertilize their crops and improve water quality. “Manure that is applied in proper concentration and at the proper time is taken up and used by crops,” said NRCS California State Conservationist Ed Burton. “Nitrogen and other nutrients can be put to work so they cannot wash or percolate into water and become pollutants.” Burton added that the dairy industry has been “very responsive working with us to develop and implement plans that take advantage of natural fertilizer occurring in livestock manure and developing structures and management techniques to keep it away from water sources.” He noted that in the past five years, NRCS put roughly $47 million towards this goal. Producers typically put up half the cost of conservation projects, meaning the total NRCS-industry investment approaches $100 million.

Sharon, Ohio-Sharon Township’s board of trustees and community members apparently aren’t ready to accept “no” from the state over the community’s efforts to prevent installation of a $12,000-gallon anhydrous ammonia tank that they claim will be a safety hazard. About 70 residents attended a board of trustees’ meeting last month to voice their concerns about Ohio Department of Agriculture officials approving the tank, and a public meeting has been set for June 10. Township trustees posted a public meeting notice on their website stating that a special meeting will be held and that the location has been moved from the Sharon administration building to the elementary school gym due to an expected large turnout. The Medina County prosecutor’s office, the emergency management director, the sheriff’s office, a state legislator, and U.S. Rep. Boccieri have been invited to attend. Community activist Colleen Piscetta told the local press that concerned residents have hired an attorney and are circulating a petition. ODA representatives are also invited, but spokeswoman Kaleigh Frazier told Green Markets she wasn’t sure they will attend. “We however are working to arrange an informational meeting with the Sharon Township trustees to explain our process,” Frazier noted.

Boston, Mass.-Converted Organics Inc., which uses a proprietary thermal process to produce organic fertilizer from food wastes, has disclosed plans to acquire an 856-acre Colorado farm that will produce an immediate income and at the same time provide a test-bed for improving organic farming techniques. Late last month Converted Organics announced a letter of intent to acquire R.M. & S.M. Family Farm, LLC of Mosca, Colo., including rights to all equipment and intellectual property currently needed to operate the farming business. “R.M. & S.M. Family Farm, with revenue of $1.2 million and an 856-acre farm, provides Converted Organics with the ability to conduct large-scale field research to improve the profitability of the farm because of our growth trials with potatoes,” reported Company Pres Edward J. Gildea. He said Converted Organics will transition R.M. & S.M. Family Farm from conventional to organic growing practices and continue the production of commercially desirable crops such as corn and potatoes. Gildea remarked. “We hope this farm acquisition, which is part of our mission to involve the company with businesses that are not only stable but also sustainable, will be the first of many to benefit both the company and our shareholders.”

Fulton, Ill.-Schafer Fisheries, which claims to be the Midwest’s largest distributor of fresh fish and frozen seafood, has turned a sideline that began producing liquid fertilizer from leftovers in 2002 into a business that reached a million gallons last year. “We’re well on our way to selling the same amount this year,” reported Lou Jullien, a Schafer consultant. What’s more, claimed Jullien, Shafer’s Liquid Fish is priced about the same as chemical fertilizers, and less than competing organic products. Schafer grinds the entrails and internal organs through a cold process that retains more of the nutrients than a similar process used to create fish emulsion and fertilizer. The cold process is supposed to maintain hormones, vitamins, enzymes, amino acids, and minerals in the product. “The problem with the emulsion is that the heat used to create it destroys the microbes, one of the important nutrients in the fertilizer,” said Jullien. He described the three main Liquid Fish ingredients as citric, phosphoric, and sulfuric acids. According to Jullien, another important part of producing the fertilizer is that it helps the company cut down on waste while producing an environmentally safe product. And the response from users, he added, has been positive. One farmer in Florida increased his corn yield by 10 percent after using the fertilizer just once. He mentioned that the company is expanding into world markets, including Singapore, India, Israel, and Indonesia.

Augusta, Maine-Maine residents appear to be on their way to making their state the first to stop using fertilizer on lawns. A recent survey of Mainers by a Maine market research firm found that over 61 percent don’t fertilize their lawns. A group calling themselves YardScapers is claiming responsibility for starting the trend, insisting a plush green lawn motivates people to overuse fertilizer and insecticides, which impacts water quality. Laura Wilson with the University of Maine Cooperative Extension Service told Green Markets, “Our research data and a recent Maine Department of Environmental Protection survey both show that most people in Maine do not fertilize their lawns.” She said the overuse and misuse/misapplication of fertilizers could indeed be a threat to water quality. “I certainly hope that Mainers are starting a trend to fertilize only when it is necessary, and to apply products with care,” added Wilson, who reported that over 80 percent of lawns tested in the past five years did not need additional phosphorus.