With a late start to spring, farmers throughout the Midwest are trying to get into the field at the same time. Multiple states, including North Dakota, Minnesota and South Dakota, utilize many of the same sources for fertilizer. Several agricultural retailers have confirmed with the Red River Farm Network they have been completely out of anhydrous at times this spring. North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum and Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring have spoken with fertilizer plant managers across the state, who say they have never experienced a shortage to this degree before. In an interview with RRFN, Burgum confirmed the shortage is a supply chain issue. “When it gets related to anhydrous ammonia, then you’re talking about a very specialized supply chain,” said Burgum. “There’s only a certain amount of equipment, both rail and truck, and facilities to handle anhydrous. When product runs out, and there’s demand across this large of a region, we end up with a supply chain dislocation.” Burgum and Goehring are looking at options to help relieve pressure on the supply chain.
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