The market for crop nutrients has softened resulting in the Mosaic company cutting back on it's potash production.

The mine at Colonsay will see it's outputs reduced by extending maintenance downtime. The company will also slow it's production in Phosphate

Officials say there are a number of factors at play including the low Canadian dollar plus delayed purchases of potash by international companies. It's also blaming the volatile dollar, lower grain and oil seed prices and political and economic uncertainty.

"The long-term positive outlook for crop nutrient demand has not changed, but the industry faces some near-term challenges in the current environment ... we are managing our production levels to match current demand, controlling our costs, and maintaining our discipline," said Joc O'Rourke, president and chief executive officer of Mosaic Co., in a news release.

Mosaic was expecting 'robust global shipments' in the second half of 2015, total sales volumes for potash were expected to range from 1.6 to two million tonnes for the third quarter of the year.

potash volumes are now expected to be in the bottom half of what they had forecasted.