The Illinois Department of Agriculture has notified fertilizer registrants that they must send in their tonnage reports for fall 2012 fertilizer sales.  On each ton of fertilizer sold to the end user, the Fertilizer Act requires a 25 cent inspection fee, which goes to IDA to fund the fertilizer inspection, quality, and safety programs for all forms of fertilizer.  Another new change in the Illinois Fertilizer Act establishes a Fertilizer Distributor License of $100 for each company that distributes fertilizer and $50 for each additional fertilizer distributor location under that company name.  "Distribute" means to import, consign, manufacture, produce, store, transport, custom blend, compound, or blend fertilizer or to transfer from one container to another for the purpose of selling, giving away, bartering or otherwise supplying fertilizer in Illinois.  The distributor license eliminates the old "custom blend" license that retailers are accustomed to and also now requires manufacturers and other supplies of fertilizer, including all commercial and on-farm ammonia storage locations, to register as a distributor.  

 

New this year is an additional 75 cent fee for the Nutrient Research & Education Council (NREC).  One you remit your tonnage reports, IDA will then assign your company a unique identification number and send you an invoice for 75 cents per ton (based on the tonnage you reported) to be paid directly to NREC, PO Box 1703, Bloomington IL.  Payment of the NREC assessment is a condition of your license to sell fertilizer in Illinois.  NREC is set up outside of IDA to ensure that these funds, which are dedicated to nutrient research to improve production and minimize environmental impacts from nutrient use, cannot be swept by the state.  NREC will ensure that Illinois agriculture has a vibrant program to address the serious regulatory challenges facing the fertilizer industry with regard to fertilizer use and water quality, as well as to continue to research ways to enhance yields by maximizing fertilizer efficiency and crop nutrient utilization.  For more information on NREC, go to http://www.illinoisnrec.org to view a short video about the program and see the current activities of NREC. 

 

Please do not remit the NREC assessment of 75 cents per ton until you receive the NREC invoice from IDA, which will come shortly after you send in your fall tonnage reports.  To view a copy of the current Illinois Fertilizer Act and more about the changes in the Act,  including NREC, please go to IFCA's home page at  http://www.ifca.com or call our office at 309.827.2774.