Critical Potash
An agricultural dependence
Potash added to Critical Minerals List
“The work of the USGS is at the heart of our nation’s mission to reduce our vulnerability to disruptions in the supply of critical minerals. Any shortage of these resources constitutes a strategic vulnerability for the security and prosperity of the United States.”
Dr. Tim Petty, Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Water and Science
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United Nations World Food Program
Over the next 40 years, we need to produce more food than the last 8,000 years combined
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96% import reliant
The United States is one of the World’s largest consumers of potash and is over 96% import reliant. Principle supply coming from only 4 global producers, which includes 1 in Russia and 1 in Belarus, who at times are antagonistic to our nation.
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Strategic Reserve of Potash
The United States Strategic Reserve of Potash in New Mexico ceased material production in 2016. United States’ farms require 11 Million tons every year. We produce 300,000 tons domestically.
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Required to grow our food
Potash is the tightest controlled commodity in the world, yet it is required to grow our food. It is required to support our corn and soybean farmers. Especially now, when competitive demand for potash and food exports are coming from China, Brazil, and India.
A valuable resource
“One of the things that makes this so valuable is that it is an incredibly rich deposit that is in easy reach of the enormous demand from Midwest corn and soybean farmers.”
Dr. William B. Harrison, director of the Michigan Geological
Repository for Research and Education at WMU
World Fertilizer
The US government has identified 35 key minerals that it considers critical to national and economic security that it wants to increase protection.
According to the World Fertilizer Magazine, “The complete list includes bauxite, platinum group metals and potash. The Interior Department reportedly said that the list will be updated periodically in line with changes in supply, demand, policy and concentration of demand. Reuters reports that the Department of Commerce will use the list to respond to a Presidential order in December to break US dependence of foreign minerals.”
35 Critical Minerals List
How Michigan Potash & Salt Company will help
Michigan could be the nation’s leading source for a critical agricultural resource that is also in demand internationally. Potash is an essential plant nutrient and critical ingredient in fertilizer for the economy’s agricultural industry. Currently supplies are running out and there is no known substitute for potash. The U.S. is 95% import reliant, as potash is only found in a few places in the world.
Ted Pagano of Michigan Potash estimates an initial demand for more than 300 workers employed in an enterprise that will produce more than a million tons of potash annually. “It’s our responsibility to develop this wisely and in a way that moves Michigan forward,” Pagano says. Bringing Michigan potash to market, Pagano says, will provide a domestic source of the element at reduced cost to Midwest farmers as well as to the national agriculture industry. It will reduce imports, improve the nation’s trade balance, create jobs and increase the state’s tax base.
A valuable resource for Michigan and the Nation
“It’s our responsibility to develop this wisely and in a way that moves Michigan forward.”
Ted Pagano, Founder of Michigan Potash & Salt Company