Iowa Farmers Demand Action Against Fertilizer Monopolies

Iowa farmers gathered to meet with U.S. Deputy Agriculture Secretary Stephen Vaden on September 11, expressing their frustration over the rising prices of fertilizers. The prices have doubled or tripled in the past six years, and some farmers are unable to get a price for fertilizer purchases this fall due to supply chain issues.

Lance Lillibridge, a past president of the Iowa Corn Growers Association, moderated a panel discussion with Vaden and later took questions from fellow farmers. Jason Orr, who farms in northeast Iowa, said 'Everybody's got their hands in our pockets, and we're downright tired of it.'

The Fertilizer Institute, an industry advocate, stated that fertilizer producers 'compete fiercely with each other in a robust, global market' impacted by complex factors such as changes in global production and demand, shifting trade patterns, and geopolitical events.

Vaden said he understands farmers' frustration and expects a federal investigation into anticompetitive practices in the fertilizer industry to result in more than 'a slap on the wrist.' He wants farmers to supply fertilizer price data to the government to support its probe.