The Canadian fertilizer industry says it’s taking steps to ensure farmers will have access to fertilizer supplies for seeding this spring, as supply chains are impacted by measures to slow down the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

Fertilizer Canada, which represents manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers of nitrogen, phosphate, potash, and sulphur, says its members have “done well” in recovering from rail disruptions this winter. The industry group says they “generally have normal supplies of fertilizer moving throughout the country.”

“Our member companies are implementing COVID-19 contingency plans at manufacturing plants, storage terminals and agri-retail outlets across the country to protect employees and the public and to ensure farmers get the fertilizer they need in time for seeding,” says Garth Whyte, president and CEO of Fertilizer Canada, in a statement issued March 17th.

He adds governments must ensure the Canadian border remains open to the movement of fertilizer in order for farmers to receive their product and meet their spring seeding requirements.

“Our industry would be concerned about any restrictive measures that may have unintended consequences on rail, port and truck service, imports or operations at agri-retail,” says the fertilizer industry group.

A successful planting season and good yields at harvest this fall will be critically important to Canada’s economic recovery in 2020, says Fertilizer Canada.