The Southwestern Fertilizer Conference (SWFC) is an IRS-designated 501(c)(6) non-profit trade association established in 1925, originally as a fertilizer grade hearing for Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana. With the introduction of dealer blending and liquid fertilizer in the 50’s, the emphasis on the grade hearing aspect of the conference waned. Industry, however, continued to use the conference as an opportunity to maintain business relationships. It kept its regional emphasis until the 1980’s, when other geographic interests gained notice. Attendance grew rapidly each year after that, mostly from word-of-mouth promotion. You could say that “everyone is there because everyone is there".

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Hosted by the association, the annual conference, “The Southwest” as it is often referred to within the industry, has allowed it to evolve into a meeting of great prominence for the fertilizer industry, and is one of the largest gatherings of professionals involved in the fertilizer industry in the world. This conference attracts upper-level management and sales personnel representing fertilizer manufacturers, distributors, brokers and dealers. The SWFC is governed by volunteer leaders and an Executive Committee who are elected by the membership annually. Their duties are guided by the efforts of the Planning Committee. Any participant of the SWFC is welcome to volunteer to participate – contact the association office for more details.