There are three kinds of fertilizers commonly used around the world, and Russia is a top producer of all of them.
Following the country's invasion of Ukraine, Russia's position among the top fertilizer producers has sparked fears of skyrocketing prices. The United Nations has warned the global fertilizer market could suffer "considerable disruptions" (though other experts have said it's too soon to tell).
[Read more: Shuttered offices, potentially high fertilizer costs: Here’s what the situation in Ukraine means for U.S. agriculture]
The situation has already garnered action from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. It announced Friday it would invest $250 million into fertilizer production in the U.S.
“Recent supply chain disruptions from the global pandemic to Putin’s unprovoked war against Ukraine have shown just how important it is to invest in this crucial link in the agricultural supply chain here at home,” Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said.
Top image: Soybean field west of Champaign, Illinois, on Wednesday, July 8, 2020.
