A groundbreaking collaboration between green ammonia producer Talus, agricultural cooperative Central Farm Service (CFS), and nonprofit environmental tracking organization CleanCounts aims to provide Minnesota farmers with affordable, locally sourced fertilizer. This initiative will establish ammonia production facilities within the state to enhance agricultural sustainability.

Talus plans to implement systems that utilize air, water, and renewable energy supplied by Blue Earth Light & Water to produce 40 tons of ammonia daily. This production capacity is projected to support the fertilization of over 100,000 acres of farmland, representing two-thirds of CFS’s annual ammonia sales, according to a recent press release.

The success of this project depends on securing backing from Minnesota’s Renewable Development Account, with funding discussions set for the 2026 legislative session.

Addressing Rising Fertilizer Costs

U.S. farmers are facing significant challenges due to escalating fertilizer prices, exacerbated by geopolitical tensions affecting supply chains. Currently, the U.S. ranks as the third-largest fertilizer producer worldwide, behind China and Russia.

“Ammonia prices have fluctuated by over 300% in recent years,” stated KC Graner, CEO of CFS. “Local production will give our member-owners unprecedented control and predictability, enhancing the economic resilience of the farms we serve.”

Ammonia is primarily applied directly to soil, with techniques varying depending on geographical and climatic conditions. While the U.S. is the leader in direct application, countries like Argentina and Ukraine also represent significant markets.

“Our projects are focused on pricing ammonia at a competitive discount to the long-term average delivered price in targeted markets,” Peitz explained. “The availability of inexpensive electricity, particularly in the Corn Belt due to wind energy generation, allows us to maintain competitive pricing.”

Tracking Environmental Impact

In partnership with CleanCounts, the ammonia production process will be transparently monitored, ensuring accountability and traceability. Rob Davis, CleanCounts’ Chief Growth Officer, emphasized that companies can purchase CleanCounts certificates to support their Scope 3 greenhouse gas emission reduction initiatives.

PepsiCo is among the corporations planning to endorse this locally produced ammonia fertilizer to enhance its sustainability efforts. Margaret Henry, VP of Sustainable Agriculture at PepsiCo, stated, “By supporting initiatives like Talus and utilizing credible registries such as CleanCounts, we aim to foster locationally produced fertilizer solutions that can enhance supply chain resilience and deliver climate benefits.”

Historically focused on tracking energy production, CleanCounts is expanding its capabilities to monitor clean molecules, like green ammonia, to document their emissions-free creation. Davis described their goal: “We aim to provide a verifiable record that confirms a specified volume of ammonia was produced using cutting-edge and increasingly adopted technology across the nation.”