TFI Response to NOAA Hypoxia Announcement

Source: The Fertilizer Institute

Nutrients and their impact on water quality were again in the news with the release of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) announcement, that at 8,776 square miles, the hypoxic zone in the Gulf of Mexico is, the largest measured since dead zone mapping began in 1985.

The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) deployed a multifaceted strategy to ensure that industry’s commitment to nutrient stewardship was heard:

• TFI distributed a hypoxia messages to members of TFI’s Communication Committee and stakeholders in the agriculture community. The spokesman for the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) express support for the 4R’s during a radio interview on Aug. 4. TFI serves with AFBF on the Agricultural Policy Nutrients Council (ANPC) steering committee, and this provides a forum for additional discussion.
• TFI issued a statement to the media, posted it on their website. The agriculture community is encouraged to utilize this or alternately, to refer any media calls received to Kathy Mathers in the TFI office.
• TFI leveraged their social media presence to distribute our key messages. Through their Twitter account, TFI engaged directly with media outlets including a reporter for National Public Radio. Twitter affords a direct line to establish TFI as a source, correct inaccuracies and suggest follow-up stories.

While the emergence of front page stories on this issue will slow, the fact that the hypoxic zone in the Gulf was the largest ever will likely be cited in most every hypoxia news story this year. Our best defense is our industry’s voluntary commitment to 4R nutrient stewardship; including financial support for the 4R Research Fund.