Deerfield, Ill.-CF Industries Holdings Inc. has declared a $0.10 per share dividend on its common stock for the first quarter. The dividend will be payable on March 2, 2009, to stockholders of record as of Feb. 17, 2009.
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California senators open fertilizer spiking probe
Sacramento, Calif.-A state senate committee wasted no time convening hearings last week into why it took nearly three years to take action against a producer illegally spiking organic fertilizer with ammonium sulfate. Just a little over a week after disclosure of a possible second “spiking” case, the Food and Agriculture Committee started uncovering the reasons behind the slow response by state inspectors who knew about the violations by California Liquid Fertilizer in 2004 and didn’t pull the product from the market until 2007. The panel also indicated interest in the FBI raid on Port Organic Products in Kern County Jan. 22 (GM Jan. 26, p. 11; Feb. 2, p. 11), although there are still no specific charges. Senate Majority Leader Dean Florez, who represents the Shafter farming country, indicated the panel will be questioning California Food and Agriculture Dept. witnesses, along with those who certify farms as organic, on how such a fraud could have gone on for so long. Other witnesses will include fertilizer producers and organic growers looking for avenues to renew confidence in their products. At the same time, organic producer and distributor Earthbound Farms of San Juan Bautista, Calif., disclosed it has been working with an independent lab to develop a nitrogen ratio test that could identify fertilizer with non-organic nitrogen. “The ratio test serves as an indicator to the source of the nitrogen in the fertilizer,” explained spokeswoman Samantha Cabaluna. “We’ve had the lab do testing on some blind samples with synthetic nitrogen which produced different results from what would be shown by organic nitrogen.” She didn’t have all the technical details, but said Earthbound has been working on the test since last fall and has deployed it in some cases.
Griffin eyes more warehousing for organic fert
Henderson, Ky.-Griffin Industries Inc. is still drawing up final plans for a 16,500-square-foot warehouse expansion to handle the rapid growth of its business recycling animal processing and bakery waste into high NPK organic fertilizer and other products. Spokesman Rick Geise told Green Markets that Griffin recently acquired property adjacent to a 3,000 square-foot third-party warehouse the company plans to continue to use. “We haven’t broken ground or obtained permits as yet,” Geise reported, after the city’s board of zoning adjustment approved a variance to industrial zone setback requirements. Griffin officials told the board that the company needs more storage because new markets have opened for the material. The warehouse will be used for storing bagged organic fertilizer and should not pose odor or any other problems, allaying fire hazard concerns of at least one of the members. Griffin, with locations in nearly all states except for the west and far west, renders millions of pounds of waste by-products collected daily from slaughterhouses, packing plants, butcher shops, supermarkets, hotels, and restaurants into organic fertilizers, animal feeds, and pet food ingredients. Geise wouldn’t disclose any production figures, but said the products, including 13-13-0 plus calcium and 10-2-8, are Organic Materials Research Institute-listed and serve the organic market across the U.S.
Well tests checking for leaking fertilizer
Plainfield, Ind.-Local officials have hired an environmental firm to check for groundwater contamination near one of the town’s wells, which was shut down when 2,000 to 3,000 gallons of liquid fertilizer escaped in December from storage at a nearby farm supply store that closed down 10 years ago. “The city made the decision to shut down the well as a precautionary measure,” Amber Finkelstein, Indiana Dept. of Environmental Management (IDEM) spokeswoman, told Green Markets. Now the city is having test wells drilled in the vicinity of the well, located only 500 yards from the spill site, to make sure there isn’t any fertilizer close enough to cause a problem. Finkelstein said the leak was from a tank at the idled facility that hadn’t been completely drained. She said the fertilizer didn’t overflow the secondary containment, but flowed through an opening when the structure failed at the old Stanley Fertilizer Co. Both the city and state say that the owners have held on to the property and will be held responsible for the contamination. IDEM’s emergency spill team supervised the initial response in the neighborhood and immediate steps were taken to contain the liquid, which was running down the street and into a town storm sewer drain that was immediately sealed off. A local earthmoving company was called to assist in halting the runoff and begin cleanup by vacuuming as much of the spill as possible. Plainfield City Engineer Tim Belcher told the local press that a pipe or valve on the large storage tank was frozen and broke in the cold weather. “It is possible that the (chemicals) will dissipate and not pose any problem, but we’ll do these tests to find out what’s going on,” Belcher was quoted as saying.
Allied empties suspect tank under city edict
Chesapeake, Va.-City inspectors are keeping a close eye on the rest of the fertilizer tanks after Allied Terminals drained one of them on orders from the local fire chief because of suspicions of having the same weld problems that caused last November’s disastrous failure. “The contents have been sufficiently removed to a level where no immediate danger exists,” spokesman Capt. Steve Johnson reported. “Our task force continues to inspect surrounding facilities as well.” Johnson said Allied met the Jan. 30 deadline for draining Tank 209, which has a capacity of more than 2 million gallons of liquid fertilizer. Inspectors found the tank to have defective welds similar to the ones that caused a nearby tank to collapse. The tank now holds only about three feet of product, which Johnson described as of no real concern to city officials. Nearby Tank 201 collapsed Nov. 12, spilling more than 2 million gallons of liquid fertilizer, some of which flowed into the South Hill community and toward the southern branch of the Elizabeth River (GM Archives).
Idaho committees approve new groundwater rule
Boise-The Idaho House Environment Committee and the Idaho Senate Health & Welfare Committee have approved a rule to allow companies like the J.R. Simplot Co., Agrium, and Monsanto to mine phosphate without being required to restore groundwater beneath their operations to their natural condition. According to the new rule, approved on Jan. 28, mining companies could pollute groundwater below their extraction, reclamation, and tailing activities with high concentrations of naturally occurring elements such as selenium. They would be required to monitor groundwater at “points of compliance” close to the mining area to ensure the pollution does not migrate offsite. The rule does not require mining companies to clean contaminated groundwater, but they must keep pollution from spreading. It stops short of a 2007 draft proposal developed, but never formalized, by the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality that would have required companies to clean up groundwater below their mines within eight years of ceasing activities. Agency rules must be approved in House and Senate committees to go into effect. Barry Burnell, IDEQ water quality administrator, called the measure a balance between the mining companies and environmentalists, but the Idaho Conservation League opposed the rule. ICL Program Director Justin Hayes said it leaves Idaho groundwater vulnerable and does not protect human health.
Potash antitrust cases consolidated to Illinois
Chicago-Antitrust cases filed against potash producers last year will be consolidated to the Northern District of Illinois. Initial suits were brought both in the Illinois district (Gage’s Fertilizer & Grain Inc. v. Agrium Inc. et al., GM Sept. 22, 2008, p. 1) as well as in Minnesota (Minn-Chem Inc. v. Agrium Inc. et al., GM Sept. 15, 2008, p. 1). The U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation noted that it has come to its attention that some six additional actions have been filed in the Northern District.
N.J. plant now producing granular fertilizer
Boston-Converted Organics Inc. has turned out the first batch of organic granular fertilizer at the company’s new Woodbridge, N.J. manufacturing facility, and is poised to fill orders from agricultural, retail, professional turf, and municipal customers for the upcoming 2009 growing season. Last summer the Woodbridge facility began using the high temperature liquid composting process, a microbial digestion technology, to manufacture organic liquid fertilizer and soil amendment products. Both the Woodbridge and the Gonzales, Calif., plants are using the process for granular and liquid products.
TFI releases 2008 Annual Report
Washington, D.C.-The Fertilizer Institute has released its 2008 Annual Report, highlighting a year focused on fertilizer’s contribution to world food production and its essential role as part of every nation’s food security strategy. “Food riots and fertilizer riots grabbed headlines in 2008. As consumers became more engaged in food prices and the economy, and policymakers focused on food security, TFI worked to expand the public’s understanding of production agriculture and the nutritious benefits our industry provides at a relatively small cost,” said TFI President Ford B. West. “Fertilizers are currently responsible for between 40 and 60 percent of world food production, and it is our role to get that message out there on behalf of the industry.” In addition to the messages TFI carried throughout the year, the annual report highlights several of the Institute’s achievements and efforts. In 2008, TFI submitted 27 sets of comments to federal agencies to ensure that regulations are fair and take unique aspects of the fertilizer industry into consideration; delivered more than 50 presentations throughout the world about the fertilizer supply and demand situation; fielded several hundred media calls properly positioning the fertilizer industry in the trade press and major news outlets; and commissioned a study by Doane Advisory Services examining the impact of potential climate change legislation on the production of 8 U.S. crops. The annual report also describes the stewardship initiatives that were undertaken by TFI in 2008, including its investment in several nutrient use projects; participation in a United Nations learning series on sustainable development; and the opening of the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History exhibit “Dig It! The Secrets of Soil.” TFI, on behalf of the Nutrients for Life Foundation, is the lead sponsor of the exhibition, which is designed to increase the level of public awareness about the important role of soils, as well as fertilizer’s role in replenishing them. “In 2008, several major issues impacting the United States and global fertilizer industry, including the global food crisis and escalating energy [costs], resulted in fertilizers being recognized throughout the world as a strategic global commodity,” said West. “Throughout the past year, TFI’s legislative, regulatory and public affairs efforts were focused on educating and promoting our industry’s role.” The report is available at www.tfi.org.
Converted Organics signs up Agway dealer
Boston-Converted Organics Inc. reports that it has signed a distribution agreement with Agway dealer R.A.S.P. Inc. of Carver, Mass., to supply organic fertilizer and soil amendment products to cranberry growers and agricultural producers in southeastern Massachusetts. R.A.S.P. Inc. has been in business since 1978 serving the cranberry growers of Massachusetts, who comprise 90 percent of the company’s customer base. Converted Organics’s flagship plant is located in Woodbridge, N.J., with another under development in Johnston, R.I. It has an additional plant in Gonzales, Calif.