Salt Shortage Update: How Madison Landscape Construction Is Keeping You Covered This Winter
If you’ve been hearing talk about a salt shortage, it’s not just chatter. Nationally – and right here in Wisconsin – bulk rock salt availability has tightened significantly, and it’s hitting private contractors the hardest.
At Madison Landscape Construction, we believe our customers deserve clear communication and reliable service, especially when conditions get challenging. Here’s what’s happening, what it means for local properties, and why our clients won’t be left scrambling.
What’s happening with the salt shortage?
Salt is a critical piece of safe winter operations – keeping entrances, lots, walkways, and loading areas passable during freeze/thaw cycles and ice events. This season, supply constraints are creating a ripple effect across the market.
A key issue we’re seeing locally: many ports are continuing to keep pickup numbers open for municipalities, but private contractor pickup access is being limited or shut off. At this point, we’ve seen ports “turn off” availability for private contractors entirely, which immediately reduces what many snow providers can secure mid-season.
And when supply drops, pricing spikes.
What this means for businesses and property managers
Several local businesses have to deal with situations where the snow removal providers are unable to salt their property. Unfortunately, we expect to hear more of this as the season continues.
In addition, many providers in the area are adding extremely high surcharges to cover increased salt costs and limited remaining inventory. For property owners, that can mean:
- Delayed or reduced salting applications
- Unexpected mid-season price hikes
- Increased slip-and-fall risk when lots and walkways can’t be treated properly
- Efforts to find backup service during an active storm cycle
Why Madison Landscape Construction customers won’t be affected
We plan for this.
Salt shortages aren’t new, and winter supply chains can change quickly. That’s why we build our winter operations around preparedness, not last-minute purchasing.
We stockpile with our own equipment
Having our own dump trucks allows us to stockpile salt and stay ahead of supply disruptions. When access tightens, the contractors who are relying on “same-week pickup” are the ones most at risk.
We plan before the storm hits
We actively forecast, stage materials, and manage inventory so we can keep service consistent through the season—not just during the easy weeks.
We prioritize safety and consistency
Our approach is straightforward: when conditions require treatment, our customers get treated -without price increases or cutting corners.
Are you looking for help yet this winter season?
We’re already taking calls from businesses looking for reliable coverage, and we can evaluate:
- Site priority and risk areas (entries, ADA routes, loading zones, high-traffic walkways)
- Service frequency needs
- Material strategy during freeze/thaw cycles
- Short-term assistance or seasonal service options
Winter in Wisconsin reminds us every year: preparation matters. Madison Landscape Construction is built for seasons like this, and our customers can count on consistent deicing service even when the market gets tight.
