McKINNEY, TEXAS (RFD NEWS) — The Federal Trade Commission has opened a broad investigation into fertilizer pricing and market concentration, following years of producer complaints about rising input costs.
FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson announced the investigation during a farmer gathering in McKinney, Texas. He said fertilizer has been one of the largest sources of rising farm input costs since 2020.
Farm groups, including the Texas Corn Producers Association, blamed concentrated market power for higher prices and urged the agency to follow the evidence. TCPA Chairman Aaron Martinka said farmers are seeking a fairer, more competitive marketplace.
The announcement comes as fertilizer prices remain sharply higher than pre-2020 levels, while farm income has fallen from its 2022 peak. Producers also pointed to rising Chapter 12 bankruptcy filings in several farm states.
The investigation does not prove wrongdoing, but it raises federal scrutiny of a major cost center for crop producers.
Farm-Level Takeaway: Fertilizer pricing is now under federal investigation, offering farmers a potential path to greater transparency in input markets.
Tony St. James, RFD News Markets Specialist
Freight volatility increasingly determines export margins, making logistics costs as important as price in marketing decisions.
January 14, 2026 06:00 AM
·
Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller today unveiled a bold plan to protect the nation’s prime farm and ranchland from the rapid spread of data centers.
January 13, 2026 03:36 PM
Secretary Rollins also met with specialty crop producers at a local strawberry farm to discuss workforce needs and the Trump Administration’s recent wins related to significantly cutting the cost of H-2A labor for California farmers.
January 13, 2026 03:25 PM
·
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins said permanent access to the higher ethanol blend would provide farmers with much-needed certainty while supporting domestic crop demand.
January 13, 2026 01:31 PM
·
