OMAHA (DTN) -- The inclusion of potash on the official draft Critical Minerals list was praised on Thursday by two agricultural groups. The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) and Agricultural Retailers Association lauded the Trump administration for including the nutrient and said they hoped another fertilizer would be added in the future.

"This action by the Trump Administration to rightfully recognize potash as a critical mineral will support American farmers across the country, whom are under constant pressure to do more with less, by helping ensure high crop yields and stocked grocery store shelves," TFI President and CEO Corey Rosenbusch said in a news release. See the news release here: https://www.tfi.org/….

While potash was included on the draft list of Critical Minerals, TFI and ARA called on Department of Interior Secretary Doug Burgum to also include phosphate, a similarly essential plant nutrient that is also subject to persistent supply chain challenges, on the final critical mineral list.

Both organizations pledged to continue to stress the importance of phosphate to administration officials and lawmakers in Congress now that the August recess has ended.

The Department of Energy defines critical minerals as minerals, elements or material that the Secretary of Energy determines are at a high risk of supply chain disruption and serve an essential function in one or more energy technologies, including technologies that produce, transmit, store and conserve energy: https://www.energy.gov/…. This list is important, as it helps guide government policy and helps prioritize domestic production and stockpiling.

Rosenbusch said TFI and ARA are submitting comments in support of adding phosphate to the critical minerals list. They will continue to emphasize with Secretary Burgum and Acting U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Secretary Sarah Ryker the essential nature of phosphate.

"Over half of all global phosphate production occurs in China and Russia," Daren Coppock, ARA president and CEO, said in the news release. "China is no stranger to restricting its exports of phosphate, implementing a near-complete export pause in 2022, with significant export reduction still in effect. Designating phosphate as a critical mineral will only help our farmers grow the food that fills our dinner tables."

Congress also helped push to include phosphate on the list of critical minerals with a bipartisan, bicameral letter in April led by Sens. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, and Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., and Representatives Kat Cammack, R-Fla., and Jimmy Panetta, D-Calif., urging Secretary Burgum to act by listing both phosphate and potash as critical minerals. The letter made the case that phosphate and potash clearly meet the criteria to be defined as critical minerals and noted, "Their significance for U.S. national security, food security and American farmers is especially critical."

"We thank the Administration, Congress, Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and Secretary Burgum for working together and uniting a bipartisan voice to rightfully recognize the essential nature of potash," Rosenbusch said. "Our two organizations look forward to continuing our efforts to have phosphate included as well. Without these two minerals, modern agricultural systems would crumble and the ability to feed our growing population would be nearly impossible."

Russ Quinn can be reached at Russ.Quinn@dtn.com

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