COMPANYHISTORIES
SIC 2874

Phosphatic Fertilizers

How the companies in this industry began, and the forces that shaped them.

4companies1868–1964founding years3still active1no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedThe Scotts Company
1868
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedLand O'Lakes, Inc.
1921
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long global expansion begins.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented.
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
FoundedLesco Inc.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedTerra Industries, Inc.
1964
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
1989
HistoryThe Berlin Wall falls; global markets open up.
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
1995
TechnologyWindows 95 launches; the internet goes mainstream.
1997
EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.
2004
TechnologySocial media and Web 2.0 take hold.
2007
TechnologyThe iPhone launches the smartphone era.
2010
TechnologyCloud computing goes mainstream for business.
2015
EnvironmentThe Paris Agreement sets global climate targets.
2020
EconomyThe COVID-19 pandemic upends the global economy.
2022
EconomyInflation spikes; central banks raise rates sharply.
2023
TechnologyGenerative AI reaches mainstream business use.
§ 02

The companies

The Scotts Company →
Active · founded 1868
With just over half of the do-it-yourself lawn care market, The Scotts Company is America's leading producer and…
Land O'Lakes, Inc. →
Active · founded 1921
Land O'Lakes, Inc.
Lesco Inc. →
Active · founded 1962
Known throughout the $4-billion green industry for its turf control products, fertilizer, and grass seed, Lesco Inc.
Terra Industries, Inc. →
Defunct · founded 1964
Terra Industries, Inc., is one of the nation's largest producers and marketers of nitrogen fertilizer, crop protection…
Build It Today

Starting a phosphatic fertilizers company now

Each week we rebuild one of these stories with today's tools and capital.