Journeyperson Industrial Mechanic

A Florida fertilizer plant will halt operations, affecting 199 employees. Mosaic Company idles operations at South Fort Meade, impacting 199 employees due to severe sulfur shortages affecting production. Published Date: October 15, 2026, 9:55 AM EDT Representative Image, 199 employees at Mosaic's facility in South Fort Meade will face layoff (Image credit: Photo by Kampus Production from Pexels) The Mosaic Company, a Tampa-based agricultural firm, in a 60-day Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act letter to the Florida Department of Commerce, announced it will halt operations at its South Fort Meade plant temporarily, which will affect 199 employees. Ad ends in 24 The employee reductions are scheduled to begin December 8, 2026, according to the WARN filing. The decision to idle the facility is due to a critical shortage of sulfur, the main component used by the company to produce fertilizer that it supplies all over the world. The Mosaic Company produces phosphate and potash crop nutrients used by farmers worldwide. The company turns raw phosphate rock and potash ore into essential fertilizers for crops. Uncertainty moving forward. Ron Yasurek, Vice President of Phosphate for North America at Mosaic, stated in the letter dated October 5 that the decision to temporarily idle operations came only after every possible alternative was exhausted. Mosaic has been monitoring the sulfur supply closely for the last several months. Still, current market conditions and lack of alternative sources forced the decision to close the South Fort Meade facility temporarily. Mosaic expects the shutdown to be temporary but said it cannot predict how long the sulfur shortage will continue. Market projections are predicting the closure could exceed half a year. "Our goal has been and continues to be, restarting our South Fort Meade operations as soon as conditions allow us to do so safely, reliably and sustainably. We will continue pursuing supply options, evaluating market conditions, and assessing opportunities to safely resume operations at the earliest possible opportunity. However, as of right now, we believe this idle will exceed six months," the letter stated. The facility will be maintained in the interim by a small group of employees who will be responsible for essential duties that will ensure the facility remains in compliance with environmental codes and able to restart operations when the time comes. The company said it was still finalizing which positions would be retained during the shutdown. Employee support. Affected employees are represented by Local 814C of the International Chemical Workers Union Council, part of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union. Union contracts state that hourly workers who are affected by the closure have rights that allow them to bump into alternative positions. Mosaic stated that it is committed to assisting affected employees and plans to coordinate with the local government to offer support through this transition. Anyone with questions, concerns or seeking assistance during the transition is asked to contact the Mosaic Human Resources Manager. Mosaic said the timing of a restart will depend on sulfur supply conditions. Love its content? Add WhatNow as a preferred source on Google to see more of its trusted coverage when you search. Be the first to know. From new restaurant openings to exciting retail launches and real estate insights, be the first to know what's happening in News Linda Lindner is an accomplished journalist and communications strategist with more than 20 years of experience covering business, commercial real estate, leadership and organizational issues. Linda combines strong journalistic instincts with analytical and communications expertise, including experience with commercial real estate metrics and business intelligence. She is particularly skilled at taking complex information and turning it into clear, engaging stories that readers can understand and connect with. Throughout her career, Linda has written across multiple professional platforms and publications, building a diverse portfolio in journalism, business communications and content strategy. Her passion is simple: finding the story behind the information and telling it in a way that makes people care.

The Mosaic Company announces Executive Leadership changes. Sep. 25, 2026 The Mosaic Company united states follow. The Mosaic Company (NYSE: MOS) announced that Karen Swager, Executive Vice President - Operations, plans to retire. Walt Precourt, Senior Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) will assume the role of Executive Vice President - Operations effective December 1. Ms. Swager will continue to serve as a senior advisor until her retirement in the second quarter of 2027. Mr. Precourt joined Mosaic in 2009 and has led the company's phosphate and potash businesses, as well as its Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) and Strategy work. In his current role as CAO, Mr. Precourt leads the company's Procurement, Human Resources, Public Affairs and Global Business Services groups. He has been a member of the company's Executive Leadership Team since 2014. "I am pleased that Walt will lead our operations as we continue to navigate challenging business conditions, especially in phosphate," said President and CEO Bruce Bodine. "Walt's thoughtful leadership and thorough knowledge of Mosaic's complex operations are well known and widely appreciated across the company. I have every confidence that he will build on Karen's legacy of steady improvements at our operating sites." In addition to leading global operations, Mr. Precourt will lead the company's EHS function. He will continue to be based in Mosaic's Tampa executive office. Ms. Swager's career at Mosaic and predecessor companies spans over three decades. She served as General Manager of several Mosaic operating facilities, led the potash business and the company's supply chain, and assumed the role of EVP - Operations in 2023. "Karen has had a remarkable career at Mosaic," Mr. Bodine said. "Her legacy of leading with heart and courage, and of driving safety, efficiency and value, will be forever etched in our company's history. I know that everyone at Mosaic joins me in wishing her all the best in retirement."