New Thio-Sul Plant Opens in Illinois

By Eric Sfiligoj|November 22, 2017

On October 4, Crop Vitality, the crop nutrition business unit of Tessenderlo Kerley, Inc. (TKI), officially opened its newest liquid fertilizer plant in East Dubuque, IL. The new plant will produce Thio-Sul, an environmentally friendly, liquid fertilizer that delivers essential nitrogen and sulfur for row crops, premium annual, and permanent crops.

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The ribbon-cutting ceremony included company personnel and representatives from East Dubuque, IL.
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Crop Vitality and Grand Opening signs welcomed the attendees.
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Once it is finished, liquid fertilizer at the plant is held in these storage tanks before shipping out to customers.
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CEO Steve Azzarrello welcomes visitors to the facility.
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Assistant Plant Manager Doug Wilkinson leads a tour group through the plant.
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Truck loading at the plant can be conducted on a 24/7 basis.
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A tour group observes the unloading of sulfur into the facility.
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The rear of the facility, with a view of the processing building.

“Unlike many dry fertilizers, the nitrogen and sulfur included in Thio-Sul is 100% soluble, enabling growers to apply these plant nutrients more evenly, more accurately, and more frequently throughout the growing season,” said Steve Azzarello, CEO for Tessenderlo Kerley at the plant opening. “The sulfur included in Thio-Sul also has the added benefit of increasing plant availability of macronutrients and micronutrients which are often tied up in the soil. Thio-Sul is also recognized as a nitrification inhibitor, slowing the rate of nitrogen loss.” He added that Thio-Sul is commonly blended with UAN for nitrogen protection and nutrient delivery and that having a Midwestern plant should improve the company’s ability to deliver products to its customers in “a more timely fashion.”

“Sulfur is more important than ever in today’s high yield crop environment,” said Tom Fairweather, Crop Vitality Director of Agronomy. “As Midwest growers search for greater yields and better return-on-investment from their plant nutrition programs, Thio-Sul is a popular choice because it enables growers to apply both sulfur and nitrogen throughout the growing season when row crops need it the most.”