Argus FMB North American Fertilizer, a trade publication, tracked around 20 proposals for fertilizer projects in North America in the past two years, according to the publication's editor, Lauren Williamson.
Agricultural economist Gary Schnitkey of the University of Illinois stated that "Fertilizer is big business, especially in agricultural regions where farmers rely on nitrogen-based products. Profits for publicly traded fertilizer producers have averaged 20 percent or more over the last decade."
"It shouldn't be a surprise that there are a lot of people investing in the fertilizer business right now," said Pat Westhoff of University of Missouri-Columbia. Westhoff was an agricultural economist at the university. Bringing fertilizer production back to the US now was a good time when "conditions are ripe," said experts.
However, there were concerns regarding this wave of potential expansion. Fifteen people got killed last April when a fertilizer plant in Texas exploded. This event highlighted how such facilities posed danger to the community. Still, for Tuscola and similar communities, local officials said "they're prepared to handle those risks."
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