ETFs For The Fertilizer M&A Drama

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

now hostile offer for Potash Corp.

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

, 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

: 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

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

and Monsanto

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

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

, 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

: 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

and Vale

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