Supply of crop protection products under stress, manufacturers explain why

By Margie Eckelkamp

Throughout the supply chain and across the United States, there are challenges this spring to the supply of herbicides, fungicides and other crop protection products. It's forecasted the tightness for herbicides and fungicides will be seen through the beginning of 2022.

BASF provided this statement to Farm Journal:

"While no one specific event has impacted BASF's glufosinate supply, the combination of multiple events and dynamics over the last year has tightened our supply. All industries, including agriculture, are working through short-term challenges to balance supply with demand."

Adam Hensley at Helm says the strain in supplies does vary by molecule and he adds metolachlor to the list of strained supplies. He says herbicides are "the first pinch you feel" but all segments will experience some level of tightness.
"We have containers waiting at ports globally that have missed multiple sailings because the ships are at capacity," Hensley explains saying that the demand is so high that shippers have to pay high fees for guaranteed shipment. ""If we put a container on a boat today, we'd be offloading it in early June and hopefully formulated for use in early July."

In response to the supply challenges, BASF says it's implementing a two-prong approach:

• Expedited Freight-Air freight of shipments vs. traditional shipping containers

• Multiple Sourcing- securing multiple new sources for intermediate material needs

"We are confident that these adjustments will help us meet the needs of our customers who have come to rely on our herbicide solutions for effective weed control," BASF concluded in the statement.

For this season, Hensley is encouraging retailers and farmers to be versatile and plan ahead as much as possible.

"We've seen this building for many months. And this overall situation will likely last into the 2022 crop year," Hensley says. "It will be difficult to get many products at the right time. It is a trifecta of challenges with an increase in projected planted acres, logistical challenges, and increased demand for residual herbicides. It will be important to growers to plan ahead and be flexible in their crop protection needs, adjusting to alternative brands or active ingredients if needed."

Corteva Agriscience was contacted and replied they were unable to provide a statement at this time because they are in a quiet period before their earnings release.