Review - S 5461 Introduced - Strategic Fertilizer Reserve

Last month, Sen Schumer (D,NY) introduced S 5461, the Strategic Fertilizer Reserve Act of 2026. The bill requires the USDA to undertake a study to evaluate the need for a strategic fertilizer reserve. It would then allow the USDA to establish such a reserve. The bill would authorize “such sums as are necessary” to establish and run the reserve. 

Since the disruption of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz began earlier this year, shipments of key fertilizers and fertilizer precursors have been reduced. This has had effects on fertilizer costs and availability, which has had an impact on the cost of food. Schumer’s bill would examine potential attempts to ameliorate similar future fertilizer shortages by establishing a fertilizer stockpile. 

Moving Forward  

While Schumer is not a member of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee to which this bill was assigned for consideration, his sole cosponsor, Sen Klobuchar (D,MN), is the Ranking Member of that Committee. This means, were their adequate time left in the session, there could be sufficient influence to see the bill considered by the Committee. I suspect that the biggest source of opposition to this bill would be the symbolically blank check that it would provide to USDA to study and establish the reserve. Even so, I expect that there would be some level of bipartisan support for the bill, especially from farm state Senators. 

For more information on the provisions of this bill, see my article at CFSN Detailed Analysis - https://patrickcoyle.substack.com/p/s-5461-introduced-strategic-fertilizer - subscription required.