ETFs For The Fertilizer M&A Drama

With another round of fertilizer M&A drama set to unfold thanks to BHP Billiton's (NYSE:

) now hostile offer for Potash Corp. (NYSE:

), the time is now to look at equity-based agriculture ETFs. Everybody knows about the Market Vectors Agribusiness ETF (NYSE:

), the most liquid of the ag ETF lot, but there are other options that offer investors exposure to Potash and other fertilizer firms that may become targets at a later date. Here are few candidates to take a looked at beyond MOO. 1) Jefferies | TR/J CRB Global Agriculture Equity Index Fund (NYSE: CRBA): CRBA is less than a year old, but this ETF is a diverse collection of North American and international ag names, several of which are involved in M&A chatter. Potash is the ETF's top holding, but Agrium (NYSE:

) is in the fray and that company is on the lookout for a target. Russia's Uralkali, which has been mentioned as a takeover candidate, too, can also be found in CRBA. The ETF also offers exposure to Deere (NYSE:

) and Monsanto (NYSE:

), which should benefit from rising ag commodities prices regardless of the M&A chatter. 2) PowerShares Global Agriculture ETF (Nasdaq:

): PAGG is definitely overshadowed by MOO, but it's worth a look because Potash is the top holding and Mosaic (NYSE:

), a potential target itself, is number three. PAGG isn't nearly as liquid as MOO, but PAGG will definitely benefit from increased M&A activity in the ag space. 3) iShares S&P Global Materials ETF (NYSE:

): If you're looking for a way to play the bidders in the next round of fertilizer M&A drama, you can't do any better than MXI. Besides BHP, mining giants Rio Tinto (NYSE:

) and Vale (NYSE:

) very well could enter the fray for Potash, Mosaic or another comparable. MXI gies you exposure to all three of those mining firms.