Grassley Presses Trump on High Seed Costs Threatening US Farm Competitiveness
Iowa Republican Senator Chuck Grassley has urged President Donald Trump to address high seed and chemical costs for US farmers, citing research from the National Corn Growers Association that found significant price disparities between the United States and Brazil.
The study, which analyzed corn and soybean prices from 2023 to 2025, revealed that US farmers pay an average of 68% more for corn seed than Brazilian growers, with prices averaging $74 more per unit. This disparity is not explained by currency fluctuations alone, according to the research.
The analysis found that US markets are dominated by premium products supplied by major global manufacturers, while Brazilian producers have access to lower-cost generic and single-active-ingredient products. This difference in product mix contributes to the higher prices paid by US farmers.
Grassley framed the issue as a matter of fairness and competitiveness, arguing that American farmers should not have to pay substantially more for inputs than their Brazilian counterparts. He has asked Trump to bring pressure on seed and chemical companies to address these price disparities.