‘Fed Up’ Fertilizer Hearing Amplifies Fertilizer Industry Collusion Practices to USDA Deputy Secretary Vaden

Yesterday, the “Fed Up: Fertilizer Cartel Profits off Farmers’ Backs” hearing gathered over 170 farmers from 13 states representing various commodities to call out the unfair fertilizer prices that are being forced upon farmers by Mosaic, Nutrien, CF Industries and Koch. American farmers are being bled dry by fertilizer prices that have continued to climb, generating over $20B in profits for fertilizer shareholders within the past five years, while the American farmer has seen the price of fertilizer double, even tripling at times, since 2020. 

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Stephen A. Vaden attended and addressed attendees, highlighting the importance of farmers continuing to keep the pressure on current investigations and the USDA’s commitment to ensuring justice for U.S. farmers. 

“I want to make clear, to each and every one of you in this room, that I’m not here wasting my time in Iowa, just to pretend like I care. I’m here because I care about this issue and we are working to bring actions down the pike that will seek to shine a light on what’s been going on in the fertilizer market,” Deputy Secretary Vaden said. “And rectify, not only from the new supply end, but from a justice end, in terms of seeing to it that the antitrust laws are enforced in this country, and we have a free market where you can depend on the price that’s quoted is a result of competition instead of collusion.” 

Following the Deputy Secretary’s address, farm organization leaders who attended the hearing responded. 

“The Deputy Secretary’s remarks, engagement and promise to see this issue through were heard by each and every farmer in the room today,” Iowa Corn Growers Association President Steve Kuiper said. “We have continued to reiterate that as farmers, we cannot face big fertilizer alone, but that doesn’t mean that we will be quiet and continue to be taken advantage of. It is clear that USDA sees the market collusion, unfairness and lack of transparency taking place in the fertilizer industry, and farmers are committed to continuing to gather evidence and pushing investigations forward until farmers have access to a fair and free market.” 

Following the Deputy Secretary’s keynote, a panel comprised of farmer leaders from around the U.S. shared their firsthand accounts of how consolidation within the fertilizer industry has cost American farm families, causing over 35,000 farms to shutter their doors. 

“We hosted our first ‘Fed Up’ hearing in late May earlier this year, where we heard from farmers about the issues they have seen which garnered us an announcement from the Federal Trade Commission that it opened an investigation into the fertilizer cartels. In Iowa, we shared insight from people who have actually worked within the industry and experienced these malpractices firsthand,” said Iowa corn farmer Lance Lillibridge. “Fertilizer prices are sky-high while farmers are barely breaking even, and we are only just beginning to uncover evidence as we continue to have conversations and shine light on the unjust realities we are all facing.” 

Farmers with evidence against the fertilizer cartel can visit savefamilyfarms.us to submit evidence with confidence that responses will be kept confidential, as promised by the USDA, DOJ and FTC. Firsthand experiences from farmers will be critical as investigations move forward. 

The Iowa Corn Growers Association was proud to host the “Fed Up” fertilizer hearing that was made possible by the Colorado Corn Council, Georgia Corn Growers Association, Illinois Corn, Kansas Corn, Kansas Wheat, Kentucky Corn, Michigan Corn, Minnesota Corn, Missouri Corn, Nebraska Corn Growers Association, North Dakota Corn Growers Association, Ohio Corn & Wheat, South Carolina Corn and Soybean Association, South Dakota Corn Utilization Council, South Dakota Wheat Growers Association, Texas Corn Producers and Wisconsin Corn. 

For More Information:

Sydney Garrett, Public Relations Manager, sgarrett@iowacorn.org, 515-225-9242