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Fertilizer disruptions anticipated this spring

A crop input supplier expects fertilizer disruptions throughout the spring.

Steve Carlsen with Minnesota-based West Central Distribution says recent flooding and the prospect of more moisture is complicating the transport of ag products to certain parts of the Midwest.

“When the river opens, rail car things, (and) trucking. We have a little bit of a strain on all those systems.”

He tells Brownfield Electronic Logging Device requirements are adding another layer of difficulty.

“The needs and times we have there can make it very difficult. And then that rail infrastructure too, with several things happening there.”

Carlsen advises farmers to plan ahead as much as possible.

“It’s not going to be a ‘show up and expect everything to be there’ type of year in my mind.”

He says fertilizer prices-which have been steadily increasing since last fall-will probably continue going up based on supply and demand.