Pierre, S.D.-Inspection fees paid on fertilizer and manure-based products will be going up in South Dakota. According to the Dept. of Agriculture, fertilizer will be increased from the current 5 cents to 15 cents per ton and manipulated manure from 2 cents to 5 cents per ton. Brad Berven, program administrator in the division of agricultural services, described the increase as a normal adjustment in fees that is needed to fund the state inspection program. The new rates were endorsed earlier this month by the South Dakota legislature’s review committee. Berven said the fees have fluctuated in the past as balances have risen and fallen in the inspection fund. Five years ago the fertilizer fee was cut in half, from 10 cents per ton to 5 cents, because of a large balance in the fund, while the manure fee was added at 2 cents. The fertilizer fee has been as high as 22 cents in the past.
Transparency Across the Fertilizer Value-Chain