The Mosaic Co. reported a 26 percent increase in net income attributable to Mosaic for the third-quarter ending Feb. 28, 2013 to $344.6 million on sales of $2.24 billion, compared to the year-ago $273.3 million on sales of $2.19 billion. Potash sales volumes were 1.8 million mt during the quarter, toward the upper end of the company’s guidance, due in part to new offshore contracts. Potash and phosphate prices, however, were both down from year-ago levels.

Nine-month income was down slightly to $1.4 billion on sales of $7.3 billion from the year-ago $1.42 billion on sales of $8.3 billion.

USDA’s March 28 Prospective Plantings reports says U.S. corn growers intend to plant 97.3 million acres of corn for all purposes in 2013, up slightly from last year and 6 percent higher than in 2011. If realized, USDA said this will represent the highest planted acreage in the U.S. since 1936, when an estimated 102 million acres were planted.

The projection is also up from USDA’s last official estimate in late February, which pegged the 2013 U.S. corn crop at 96.5 million acres.

USDA estimated the soybean planted area for 2013 at 77.1 million acres, down slightly from last year but the fourth highest on record, if realized. The projection is down slightly from USDA’s February estimate of a 77.5 million-acre soybean crop in 2013.

Compared with 2012, USDA predicted that planted soybean area will be down across the Great Plains with the exception of North Dakota. Nebraska and Minnesota are expecting the largest declines compared with last year, USDA reported, while Illinois and North Dakota are expecting the largest increases.

All wheat planted area for 2013 is estimated at 56.4 million acres, up 1 percent from 2012 and up slightly from USDA’s February estimate of 56 million acres. USDA estimated the 2013 winter wheat planted area at 42.0 million acres, 2 percent above last year and up slightly from the previous estimate. Of this total, about 28.9 million acres are Hard Red Winter, 9.67 million acres are Soft Red Winter, and 3.39 million acres are White Winter.

Area planted to other spring wheat for 2013 is expected to reach 12.7 million acres, up 3 percent from 2012. Of this total, about 12.1 million acres are Hard Red Spring wheat. The intended Durum planted area for 2013 is estimated at 1.75 million acres, down 18 percent from 2012.

USDA said all cotton planted area for 2013 is expected to total 10.0 million acres, down 19 percent from last year. Upland cotton area is expected to total 9.82 million acres, down 19 percent from 2012, while American Pima area is expected to total 206,000 acres, down 14 percent from 2012.

Agrium Inc. reports that Glass, Lewis & Co. LLC has recommended that its clients vote for all 12 of Agrium’s director nominees in the upcoming April 9 shareholder meeting. Glass Lewis is a leading independent international corporate governance analysis and proxy voting firm that focuses on the long-term financial impact of investment and proxy vote decisions.

Agrium notes that two other firms – Pensions Investment Research Consultants (PIRC), a UK-based proxy advisory firm, and Egan-Jones – also support Agrium.

Another group, however, throws a bone to Jana Partners LLC, Agrium’s largest shareholder, which is trying to put five nominees on the board. ISS recommends that shareholders put two of Jana’s five nominees on the board—Jana Managing Partner Barry Rosenstein and David Bullock, former UAP executive. ISS argues that Jana has made a compelling case for change. The two members could continue to make this on the board, but would have to be persuasive as they would not have enough power to cause a break up the company by themselves.

Agrebon Inc., a Colorado-based manufacturer of renewable, low-carbon fertilizer, announced that it has entered into an agreement with Progressive Nutrient Systems (PNS) to incorporate its technology in several small-scale nitrogen fertilizer plants, which will be built adjacent to ethanol production facilities throughout North Dakota.

Agrebon’s technology converts ethanol byproducts and other waste streams into low-carbon, nitrogen-based fertilizer. Agrebon said the goal of the project is to reduce the carbon footprint of corn-based ethanol production while also providing a local supply of fertilizer to area farmers.

"Agrebon offers a disruptive technology to drastically improve how ethanol is produced and how farmers gain access to fertilizer," said Justin Eisenach, Agrebon CEO. "It has global potential to change the way we live. That’s why we like to call it the ‘iPad of the industry.’"

Agrebon said its technology will initially be used in two fertilizer plants, which will be located at ethanol production facilities near the North Dakota towns of Hankinson and Casselton. Eventually, PNS plans to construct more plants throughout North Dakota.

"Agrebon’s technology is key to the PNS business model," said Dan Olson, CEO and COO of PNS. "Together we can improve the environmental aspects of ethanol production and help ensure the industry’s sustainability."

Headquartered in Louisville, Colo., Agrebon was incorporated in 2010. The company was formerly known as BioRenewable Solutions Inc., but changed its name to Agrebon Inc. in August 2010.

Algerian press reports that Yara International ASA of Norway has signed agreements to invest in a $2 billion ammonia, nitric acid, ammonium nitrate, and nitrogen fertilizer factory in Algeria. Yara will share ownership in the facility with Asmidal, part of Algeria’s state-owned Sonatrach.

Norway is also partnering with Qatar in constructing a $3.5 billion ammonia plant in Hadjar Essed, and a phosphoric acid factory in Oued Koubrite, in northeastern Algeria near the border with Tunisia. The plants are planned for service in 2017.

Asmidal’s current annual production capacity includes 1 million mt of ammonia; 825,000 mt of ammonium nitrate; 240,000 mt of UAN; and 800,000 mt of phosphate fertilizer.

Industry sources reported today that Tampa ammonia prices slipped as low as $597/mt C&F for April. By comparison, March was settled at $625/mt.

Green Markets is still awaiting more confirmation and will adjust any pricing in its issue to be dated April 1.