Fertilizer Supply Fears Spur Lawmaker Calls to Protect Phosphate

A bipartisan coalition of lawmakers has urged the Trump administration to protect farmers’ access to phosphate and add the key fertilizer ingredient to a federal government list of minerals that are crucial for national security.

More than 60 lawmakers wrote to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum on Wednesday, requesting the plant nutrient be added to the US Geological Survey’s critical minerals list, according to a copy of the letter first obtained by Bloomberg Government.

The push comes as tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump have limited phosphate shipments to the US, coinciding with falling prices for commodity crops including corn and ...