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January 12, 2022
Nitrogen Prices and Exports Alberta Agriculture, Forestry and Economic Development Submitted “With 5 months before 2022 planting begins, Alberta farmers have a few months for the fertilizer situation to sort itself out,” says Ryan Furtas, market analyst with Alberta Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Economic Development. ‘However, the most likely scenario for fertilizers is that the current high prices will continue throughout the winter and spring months of 2022.’ Canadian and Alberta agriculture is highly dependent on nitrogen-based fertilizers. Nitrogen production and products, namely ammonia and urea, are mainly produced at Alberta locations. Alberta producers supply the large demand from the Prairie Provinces as well as the rest of Canada. The lone export destination of Canadian-produced ammonia and urea is the United States. It is through the U.S. that Canadian producers are tied to the international price for nitrogen. According to Statistics Canada, “Canadian exports of ammonia (NH3) averaged 956,000 metric tonnes (mt) and 996,000 mt for the past 5 and 10 years
respectively. Of note, 2019/20 and 2020/21 ammonia exports decreased by approximately 100,000 mt or 10 percent.” Furtas notes Canadian shipments of urea to the U.S. have sharply declined. The 10-year average shows approximately 1,000,000 mt of urea exported to the U.S., whereas the 5-year average comes in at 580,000 mt. In the past couple of years, export urea tonnage to the U.S. totaled 450,000 mt, which is a 20 percent decrease in exports over the 5-year average and a 55% decrease over the 10-year average. In the past 5 years, the U.S. has added 5 million tonnes to the country’s production capacity base. This has made the U.S. less reliant on imports of both ammonia and especially urea from Canadian sources. “It is likely that Canadian exports increase in 2021/22, since Canadian nitrogen production facilities will be producing as much as possible to take advantage of the high priced demand,” says Furtas. “Even though shipments to the U.S. have increased during the first quarter of the fertilizer year, it is worth noting that U.S. farmers throughout the northern plains, eastern sections and majority of the
Corn Belt just finished a productive fall nitrogen (ammonia) application season. This is a small slice of good news for Alberta producers as it lessens later demand for nitrogen and allows inventories to rebuild for the upcoming spring,” noted Furtas.
Innisfree-Minburn 4-H Beef Club December Report Madeline Nott Club Reporter We had our monthly meeting on December 8 at Innisfree Millennium Building. Discussed our annual Christmas party and decided to go bowling to Vermilion on Dec 21. We planned our public speaking for Feb 18 in Minburn, hoping to have in-person as long as current restrictions are in place. Our next meeting is scheduled for January 12 in Minburn.
Lamont County Employee Recognized for Agricultural Fieldman Service Lamont County Submitted Long-term Lamont County employee and Agricultural Fieldman, Terry Eleniak has been recognized for 25-years with the Association of Alberta Agricultural Fieldman (AAAF). “We have many committed leaders in our organization, and this is a great accomplishment,” said Peter Tarnawsky, interim Chief Administrative Officer. Eleniak has been with Lamont County for more than 25 years, and a member of the AAAF through that time, serving a term as Regional Director and as part of the Legislative Committee with the association. He is also the president of the Lamont and District Agricultural Association, where he was recently recognized as an Outstanding Supporter of Agriculture with the Alberta Association of Agricultural Societies (AAAS). He brings this knowledge to day-to-day operations in the County as it relates to agricultural services. Agricultural Service Boards (ASB) are something unique to Alberta. Established by Alberta Agriculture to provide expertise on
Pictured L-R: Sebastien Dustrisac (past AAAF president), Terry Eleniak, Lamont County Ag. Fieldman, and Jane Fulton, current elected AAAF President. (Lamont County/Submitted Photo)
weed control, soil & water resource conservation, as well as pest management. Members are certified experts in agricultural and environmental science. Ultimately the Agricultural Fieldman is liaison between producers and the government. “I take pride in that,” said Eleniak. “In today’s era, if you can be involved in something for 25 years that is a great accomplishment—and with one organization, it is an even bigger accomplishment.” There are 69 municipalities that make up the AAAF, sharing their knowledge base and working together as Fieldman and Assistant Fieldman; with 134 certified members across the province focused on revolving issues and challenges related
to Alberta’s Weed Control Act, Agricultural Pest Control Act, Animal Health Act, Soil Conservation Act, and the Agricultural Service Board Act as these relate to each municipality.
Weekly Crop Market Review
Outstanding Supporter of Agriculture with the AAAS. (Lamont County/Submitted Photo)
