This Potash and Phosphate Institutes of US and Canada article provides a detailed overview of the Gulf of Mexico low oxygen zone and its connection to fertilizer use along the Mississippi River. It provides quick facts about the Mississippi River, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Mississippi River drainage basin. The article provides several arguments as to whether this zone is caused by farming practices or climate. The article also features graphs, maps, and tables related to the Gulf of Mexico hypoxic zone and farming fertilizers.