Razor Nutrients:Family business supplies fertilizer to area farmers

Since opening for business in January 2021, Razor Nutrients LLC has been providing and spreading much needed fertilizer for local farmers.

"Our service helps farmers navigate the stressful fertilizer marketplace," said Brady Richter, Razor Nutrient's managing partner.

Richter began the business a little over a year ago with his father, Stuart Richter, and brother-in-law, Michael Zeltinger, who joined the farming operation in 2015 when he moved to New Rockford from Fargo.

Richter told the Transcript on Tuesday that Razor Nutrients was started to maintain local competition after another fertilizer provider stepped away.

"It seemed like a good opportunity for me and [Michael] to get involved, and to kind of maintain a bit of competition in the marketplace around here," said Richter.

"We supply them with plant health, and hopefully we can give them a good deal," added Richter about his customers. "... We always hope to beat our competitors' prices."

Richter also explained that fertilizer pricing has recently become an increasingly larger expense for farmers. A reopening economy and the war in Ukraine have caused the price of fertilizer ingredients, such as nitrogen, to skyrocket.

"Ever since we started, fertilizer prices have gone up," said Richter. "When we first started, urea fertilizer was about $350 [per ton], and now we're at about $1,000. ... It's been a tough few years in the fertilizer market, and it doesn't seem like it's slowing down at all either."

Aside from being directly involved in the fertilizer marketplace, Richter also has plenty of experience dealing with fertilizer prices as a customer.

Richter developed his love of agriculture and farming while growing up on a farm eight miles east of New Rockford. After graduating from NDSU in 2015 with a bachelor's degree in agricultural economics, he returned to his family farm and continues working there to this day.

In addition to his passion for farming, however, Richter has particularly enjoyed starting and managing Razor Nutrients.

"I enjoy marketing and there's no shortage of excitement in this market," said Richter. "Buying and selling, talking to customers, trying to get them the best deal we can, and just keeping everybody profitable."

Richter added that he's working to minimize his logistical expenses as he constantly strives to give his customers the best deals possible.

In addition to buying and selling fertilizer for local farmers, Razor Nutrients also provides a spreading service, "because if they buy the product from us, we can get it out into the field and put to good use," said Richter.

In fact, Razor Nutrients is currently looking to hire drivers to run tender trucks from their blender in New Rockford, out to the spreader in their customer's fields.

Those interested in the position, or those wanting to take advantage of Razor Nutrients' services, can contact Brady Richter at (701) 302-0961.