Farmers Call for Fairness in Fertilizer Market at “Fed Up” Event in Iowa

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Stephen A. Vaden joined 170 farmers from 13 states on September 11 to learn about farmer and fertilizer retailer experiences with the highly consolidated and uncompetitive fertilizer manufacturing industry. 

“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.”  

Addressing farmer profitability is the top priority of IL Corn; addressing input costs like skyrocketing fertilizer prices remains an important tactic. 

IL Corn Growers Association Director Phil Fuhr, an Illinois City family farmer, attended the event to give voice to the experience of Illinois corn farmers. 

“Our ICGA members are struggling with extremely tight margins and no end in sight. I was proud to be their ‘seat at the table,’ sharing my own experiences and those of our members with the Secretary in hopes that the USDA continues to make this fertilizer investigation a priority,” Fuhr said.

Farmers with information about unfair practices or pricing from the fertilizer cartel can visit savefamilyfarms.us to confidentially participate in the Department of Justice investigation. Firsthand experiences from farmers will be critical as investigations move forward.  

IL Corn thanks the Iowa Corn Growers Association for hosting the “Fed Up” fertilizer hearing. The event was made possible by the Colorado Corn Council, Georgia Corn Growers Association, Iowa Corn Growers Association, IL 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.