U.S. Senator Joni Ernst announced on Apr. 29 that she has joined colleagues in introducing the Lowering Input Costs for American Farmers Act, a legislative effort aimed at reducing fertilizer expenses for Iowa farmers.
The initiative is intended to address rising input costs faced by agricultural producers by eliminating tariffs and countervailing duties on phosphate fertilizer imports from Morocco. This move follows previous recommendations made by Ernst to the U.S. Department of Commerce in both 2020 and 2023.
“There is no substitute for the invaluable work our farmers do to feed and fuel the world,” said Senator Ernst. “From securing the addition of phosphate and potash to the U.S. Critical Minerals List to pushing for research on the fertilizer market, I’ve consistently put Iowa farmers first. By joining Senator Marshall’s Lowering Input Costs for American Farmers Act, I’m proud to once again stand up for our agriculture community to drive down fertilizer costs and make life more affordable for both farmers and consumers.”
According to information provided by her office, Ernst’s legislative proposal would remove tariffs on phosphate fertilizers from Morocco, end an April 7, 2021 countervailing duty order affecting these imports, and restore access to competitively priced phosphate fertilizers for domestic producers.
Ernst has previously led efforts calling for key ingredients like potash and phosphate—now included in the U.S. Critical Minerals List—to be recognized as critical minerals due to their importance in agriculture.
Beyond her recent legislative activity, Ernst’s office assists Iowans with federal agency matters such as Social Security, Medicare, veterans benefits, immigration issues, and military affairs according to her official website. She served over two decades in the Iowa Army National Guard with deployment during Operation Iraqi Freedom according to her official website, grew up on a family farm where values of hard work were emphasized according to her official website, became Iowa’s first woman elected federally according to her official website, earned degrees from Iowa State University and Columbus State University according to her official website, and was raised in Montgomery County according to her official website.
