Sanctions on Russia

Donna Harris11 said:The Orbán vibe is creeping into America too:

Americans are quietly nudging companies to start bringing in Russian fertilizer again. It’s like, “Eh, forget the sanctions, we just need to kill this inflation!”

They think importing fertilizer will somehow fix inflation 🙏

"according to sources familiar with the matter" 🙏

Michael Ortiz68 said:They think importing fertilizer will somehow fix inflation 🙏

"according to sources familiar with the matter" 🙏

It seems some people would really love it if🤦

Natural gas is the backbone of synthetic fertilizer production,

and without enough of that fertilizer, agricultural yields can be cut in half,

which leads to massive shortages in the food supply chain,

ultimately driving up grocery prices and leaving more families struggling to put food on the table.

Russia is the world's largest exporter of potash, which is essential for making those fertilizers.
Beyond just gas and oil, Russia also controls huge exports of wheat, corn, sunflowers, various meats, and several rare raw materials.

But what can you expect? Those who are "pro-Russia" just want to blame inflation on shortages, higher costs, and a lack of the basic inputs required for high-yield farming per acre.☕

The "informed sources" already know all that, but I’d love to hear what the "uninformed sources" have to say about it.
I suppose they think we can just go out there, spread some manure around, and expect the same bumper crops we used to get—as if that would somehow keep food prices low and stop inflation in its tracks.😉

urbanotter said:It seems some people would really love it if🤦

Natural gas is the backbone of synthetic fertilizer production,

and without enough of that fertilizer, agricultural yields can be cut in half,

which leads to massive shortages in the food supply chain,

ultimately driving up grocery prices and leaving more families struggling to put food on the table.

Russia is the world's largest exporter of potash, which is essential for making those fertilizers.
Beyond just gas and oil, Russia also controls huge exports of wheat, corn, sunflowers, various meats, and several rare raw materials.

But what can you expect? Those who are "pro-Russia" just want to blame inflation on shortages, higher costs, and a lack of the basic inputs required for high-yield farming per acre.☕

The "informed sources" already know all that, but I’d love to hear what the "uninformed sources" have to say about it.
I suppose they think we can just go out there, spread some manure around, and expect the same bumper crops we used to get—as if that would somehow keep food prices low and stop inflation in its tracks.😉

If you hadn't pointed that out, I truly would have never realized that gas is the basis for synthetic fertilizers. 🙏 Thanks for the enlightening lesson.

Now tell me, when exactly did inflation start in the USA? 🍿

rowdyraven112 said:How would you even translate "man" or "dude" in this context?

Not exactly healthy...😁

Donna Harris11 said:The Orbán vibe is creeping into America too:

Americans are quietly nudging companies to start bringing in Russian fertilizer again. It’s like, “Eh, forget the sanctions, we just need to kill this inflation!”

Man, what a bunch of pushovers. You just squeeze their wallets a little and they’re suddenly all about negotiating with the devils in black, green, and yellow, just like that old saying goes.🕺

urbanotter said:It seems some people would really love it if🤦

Natural gas is the backbone of synthetic fertilizer production,

and without enough of that fertilizer, agricultural yields can be cut in half,

which leads to massive shortages in the food supply chain,

ultimately driving up grocery prices and leaving more families struggling to put food on the table.

Russia is the world's largest exporter of potash, which is essential for making those fertilizers.
Beyond just gas and oil, Russia also controls huge exports of wheat, corn, sunflowers, various meats, and several rare raw materials.

But what can you expect? Those who are "pro-Russia" just want to blame inflation on shortages, higher costs, and a lack of the basic inputs required for high-yield farming per acre.☕

The "informed sources" already know all that, but I’d love to hear what the "uninformed sources" have to say about it.
I suppose they think we can just go out there, spread some manure around, and expect the same bumper crops we used to get—as if that would somehow keep food prices low and stop inflation in its tracks.😉

So, if I'm hearing you correctly, you're essentially suggesting that Putin could have just shut off the valves to force the European Union to pressure Ukraine, thereby preventing the war from ever happening in the first place

And despite seeing the logic there, you're still choosing to justify the war and the atrocities committed during it

bluerider63 said:Man, what a bunch of pushovers. You just squeeze their wallets a little and they’re suddenly all about negotiating with the devils in black, green, and yellow, just like that old saying goes.🕺

You spend all this time criticizing the war and the atrocities being committed, yet here you are, arguing that everything could have been settled simply by turning off the valves...

silentnomad7 said:So, if I'm hearing you correctly, you're essentially suggesting that Putin could have just shut off the valves to force the European Union to pressure Ukraine, thereby preventing the war from ever happening in the first place

And despite seeing the logic there, you're still choosing to justify the war and the atrocities committed during it

I have never, not once in my life, justified a war. On the contrary, I condemn this one as well, though I firmly believe it was entirely avoidable if it hadn't been for certain people's arrogance, their coercion, and their refusal to acknowledge the interests of others or the necessary steps required to maintain peace.

It feels like your crystal ball is less about reality and more about projecting your own biases; meanwhile, I am just trying to read through all this without being overwhelmed by a massive wave of hatred directed at just one side and one specific man.
In your version of the world, he is the sole aggressor, the killer, and the dictator fighting against these "perfect" angels—these democrats, progressives, and peacemakers who supposedly never order an attack, let alone a killing.
As if when their planes strike, they drop boxes of candy and chocolates instead of cluster bombs.

People often call her a monster or say she's lost her mind, but honestly, I'm not even sure I agree with those labels.
https://www.borba.info/2022/06/13/ve...ksrhg6Nd7VyFw8

Anyone have an answer for me: when exactly did inflation start spiraling out of control here in the States? What are these "sources familiar with the situation" actually claiming?

Michael Ortiz68 said:Anyone have an answer for me: when exactly did inflation start spiraling out of control here in the States? What are these "sources familiar with the situation" actually claiming?

It’s the exact same playbook they used across Europe—locking down economies, sealing off borders, and fighting some invisible enemy. Now, everyone conveniently forgets all that happened and just uses the war as their go-to excuse.

bluerider63 said:It’s the exact same playbook they used across Europe—locking down economies, sealing off borders, and fighting some invisible enemy. Now, everyone conveniently forgets all that happened and just uses the war as their go-to excuse.

That’s pretty much it. The strategy seems to be curbing imports of Russian fertilizer to manage things. Ask urbanotter; he’ll give you the full breakdown. Apparently, "sources close to the situation" have already weighed in.

urbanotter said:I have never, not once in my life, justified a war. On the contrary, I condemn this one as well, though I firmly believe it was entirely avoidable if it hadn't been for certain people's arrogance, their coercion, and their refusal to acknowledge the interests of others or the necessary steps required to maintain peace.

It feels like your crystal ball is less about reality and more about projecting your own biases; meanwhile, I am just trying to read through all this without being overwhelmed by a massive wave of hatred directed at just one side and one specific man.
In your version of the world, he is the sole aggressor, the killer, and the dictator fighting against these "perfect" angels—these democrats, progressives, and peacemakers who supposedly never order an attack, let alone a killing.
As if when their planes strike, they drop boxes of candy and chocolates instead of cluster bombs.

People often call her a monster or say she's lost her mind, but honestly, I'm not even sure I agree with those labels.
https://www.borba.info/2022/06/13/ve...ksrhg6Nd7VyFw8

You are justifying a war that could have been prevented simply by closing the valves... I honestly don't know how much clearer that can be.

Michael Ortiz68 said:That’s pretty much it. The strategy seems to be curbing imports of Russian fertilizer to manage things. Ask urbanotter; he’ll give you the full breakdown. Apparently, "sources close to the situation" have already weighed in.

The thing is, those sources are available to everyone.
It just seems like some people take the time to actually read them and piece everything together, while others just skim the headline and call it a day because they find the actual reading too much of a chore.

Russia and Ukraine control numerous raw materials, and disruptions in supply chains could lead to far-reaching consequences.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/supply-chain-disruptions-impact

p.s.
I really hope the Wall Street Journal works for you, or perhaps you might prefer digging through official government statistical databases instead.

silentnomad7 said:You are justifying a war that could have been prevented simply by closing the valves... I honestly don't know how much clearer that can be.

I mean, who exactly was supposed to shut those valves, and at what point in time?

Donna Harris11 said:The Orbán vibe is creeping into America too:

Americans are quietly nudging companies to start bringing in Russian fertilizer again. It’s like, “Eh, forget the sanctions, we just need to kill this inflation!”

urbanotter said:It seems some people would really love it if🤦

Natural gas is the backbone of synthetic fertilizer production,

and without enough of that fertilizer, agricultural yields can be cut in half,

which leads to massive shortages in the food supply chain,

ultimately driving up grocery prices and leaving more families struggling to put food on the table.

Russia is the world's largest exporter of potash, which is essential for making those fertilizers.
Beyond just gas and oil, Russia also controls huge exports of wheat, corn, sunflowers, various meats, and several rare raw materials.

But what can you expect? Those who are "pro-Russia" just want to blame inflation on shortages, higher costs, and a lack of the basic inputs required for high-yield farming per acre.☕

The "informed sources" already know all that, but I’d love to hear what the "uninformed sources" have to say about it.
I suppose they think we can just go out there, spread some manure around, and expect the same bumper crops we used to get—as if that would somehow keep food prices low and stop inflation in its tracks.😉

You could have at least checked the import stats. If you did, you'd see that whatever the US can't produce itself, it pulls from Canada—which accounted for a massive 92% of US fertilizer imports back in 2021.

hollowdriver13 said:You could have at least checked the import stats. If you did, you'd see that whatever the US can't produce itself, it pulls from Canada—which accounted for a massive 92% of US fertilizer imports back in 2021.

I really hope you have some links to back up those claims, because relying solely on someone's word🙄

and specifically what you mean by
"anything they can't manage to produce domestically is imported from Canada, which accounted for a staggering 92% of all synthetic fertilizer imports in the US back in 2021."

urbanotter said:I really hope you have some links to back up those claims, because relying solely on someone's word🙄

and specifically what you mean by
"anything they can't manage to produce domestically is imported from Canada, which accounted for a staggering 92% of all synthetic fertilizer imports in the US back in 2021."

War in Ukraine and its Effect on Fertilizer Exports to Brazil and The U. S. Nigđe

Your Russia isn't being imported by the USA anywhere.

I find myself reflecting on how much our perspective shifts depending on where we stand in relation to global events. It’s easy to get lost in the sheer scale of things, but when you step back, you realize that everything is interconnected in ways we often overlook during the heat of the moment. I was reading through some recent discussions, and it struck me how much we tend to focus on the immediate fallout while missing the deeper, structural changes happening beneath the surface. There's a certain weight to these shifts—not just in economics or politics, but in how we perceive stability itself. It reminds me of a time back when I was working in logistics; you could see a minor delay in one port ripple out and disrupt an entire supply chain weeks later. We often think we can manage the chaos, but the reality is that we are all just navigating a series of overlapping waves.

George Robinson43 said:War in Ukraine and its Effect on Fertilizer Exports to Brazil and The U. S. Nigđe

Your Russia isn't being imported by the USA anywhere.

I was actually referring to the global export trends for potash and synthetic fertilizers, rather than focusing specifically on the trade dynamics between the USA and Brazil.

Well, if DW is spreading misinformation, then I suppose I was just passing along incorrect data myself.

I was reading an interesting piece from DW recently regarding how the ongoing conflict in Ukraine is rippling through global supply chains, specifically when it comes to fertilizer exports heading toward Brazil. It’s one of those situations where you realize just how interconnected everything has become; a disruption in Eastern Europe can fundamentally shift the agricultural landscape in South America and eventually impact food prices all the way here in the States. The article dives into the complexities of how the war in Ukraine and its effect on fertilizer exports to Brazil and the U.S. is creating a massive headache for farmers. When major suppliers are cut off or face logistical nightmares, the entire global market starts to tremble. I remember back when I was helping my uncle out on his farm over in Iowa, we used to talk about how much we relied on specific imports to keep the soil healthy and the yields high. Even then, the idea that a conflict thousands of miles away could dictate our planting costs felt distant, but now it feels like an inescapable reality. It’s a sobering reminder that stability isn't just a political concept—it's a practical necessity for keeping the world fed. Seeing how these shifts affect both Brazilian imports and the domestic American market makes you realize that there is no such thing as an isolated event in a modern, globalized economy. We are all tied to the same string, and when one end is pulled, we all feel the tension.

And if you look closely at the link you shared, it actually says the exact same thing.
j Quote

Russia stands as one of the most significant players in the global fertilizer market, supplying roughly 15 percent of the world's nitrate fertilizers and about 17 percent of its potash. Belarus also plays a massive role in this sector, making them key contributors to global agricultural stability. However, things have taken a worrying turn lately. In recent weeks, we've seen Russia halt the export of several different types of fertilizer. To make matters even more complicated, the entire production process for these fertilizers relies heavily on natural gas—another critical resource that flows largely from Russia into the global supply chain. It’s a precarious situation that really highlights how interconnected our food security is with these specific energy and commodity flows.

urbanotter said:I really hope you have some links to back up those claims, because relying solely on someone's word🙄

and specifically what you mean by
"anything they can't manage to produce domestically is imported from Canada, which accounted for a staggering 92% of all synthetic fertilizer imports in the US back in 2021."

I mean, is reading comprehension really that much of a struggle? Because that's basically what I'm saying.

Bottom line: the USA is actually the third largest fertilizer exporter in the world.

https://oec.world/en/profile/bilater...?redirect=true

Plus, they only pull about 8% of their raw materials from Russia.

As for that famous potash that everyone claims Russia has a "monopoly" on—the US imports almost everything they can't make domestically from Canada. Though, let me tweak that slightly: in 2021, they imported about 83% of their total potash needs from Canada.

https://farmdocdaily.illinois.edu/20...nd-the-us.html

Countries like Brazil are feeling the squeeze because they rely on imports from Russia, but honestly, just like Germany did with their gas, they kind of brought this on themselves by tying so much of their economy to a single nation. It’s tough, but hey, that’s what happens when a leader like Bolsonaro tries to play it cool and ties the country's fate so closely to one specific industry.

hollowdriver13 said:I mean, is reading comprehension really that much of a struggle? Because that's basically what I'm saying.

Bottom line: the USA is actually the third largest fertilizer exporter in the world.

https://oec.world/en/profile/bilater...?redirect=true

Plus, they only pull about 8% of their raw materials from Russia.

As for that famous potash that everyone claims Russia has a "monopoly" on—the US imports almost everything they can't make domestically from Canada. Though, let me tweak that slightly: in 2021, they imported about 83% of their total potash needs from Canada.

https://farmdocdaily.illinois.edu/20...nd-the-us.html

Countries like Brazil are feeling the squeeze because they rely on imports from Russia, but honestly, just like Germany did with their gas, they kind of brought this on themselves by tying so much of their economy to a single nation. It’s tough, but hey, that’s what happens when a leader like Bolsonaro tries to play it cool and ties the country's fate so closely to one specific industry.

Russia exports fertilizer to the exact same markets where they send their wheat.
Since those buyers are mostly aligned with Russia anyway, they should just strike a deal with them covering both grain and fertilizer simultaneously.