Chemical fertilizers are a lose-lose-lose—they’re bad for farmers, our communities, and the planet: - They’re costly for farmers: Chemical fertilizers are expensive, costing farmers approximately $35.8 billion in 2023, and overapplication means that much of this investment is wasted.
- They pollute our environment: Excess fertilizer runs off into waterways and impacts nearby communities, often in rural areas.
- They fuel climate change: Unused nitrogen fertilizer turns into dangerous heat-trapping gasses—237 more powerful than carbon dioxide—which travel into the atmosphere.
- They are avoidable: In 2023 alone, up to 5.8 metric tons of fertilizer were overapplied, creating pollution equivalent to 14 million cars on the road!
Farmers need a way out of the fertilizer crisis, and the solution is within reach, Jack. USDA voluntary conservation programs such as the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) can help farmers adopt smarter, healthier, science-backed practices. But they are severely underfunded. Tell Congress: reduce toxic fertilizer use by funding critical conservation programs that help farmers with evidence-based solutions. |