Williston, N.D.-Fertilizer producers are showing more interest in Leonardite humic acid being produced from deposits in this area, which are said to be the richest source of the material in the world. Leonardite Products LLC is building up production since taking over from Geo Resources in January 2008. According to Cherie Harms, who was brought in to head up the operations as president, Leonardite is finding a lot more demand in domestic agriculture than was expected. “We sell right now to fertilizer companies all over the world,” reported Harms. “It makes fertilizer more effective.” Leonardite is surface-mined from deposits that are isolated between layers of clay in the northwest corner of the state. “It’s right in the middle of the Bakken play (noted for its rich oil reserves) and is actually oxidized lignite coal, sometimes referred to as brown coal,” Harms explained. “It contains a little bit of nitrogen but it’s not a lot, and not enough to use as a fertilizer. It lowers the ph in the soil, and in doing so makes the fertilizer more effective.” Two employees bought the existing operation in January 2008 from Geo Resources, which merged with two oil companies and decided to go strictly into oil and gas. There are presently 11 employees. Harms is also working on forming a humic products trade association, with the goal of educating and advocating for the use of humic products.
Transparency Across the Fertilizer Value-Chain