FTC Probes Fertilizer Industry, Issues Subpoenas as Anhydrous Ammonia Tops $1,100 a Ton
Updated
Updated · Northern Ag Network · May 29
FTC Probes Fertilizer Industry, Issues Subpoenas as Anhydrous Ammonia Tops $1,100 a Ton
5 articles · Updated · Northern Ag Network · May 29
Andrew Ferguson told more than 100 farmers from 18 states that the FTC has opened a fertilizer antitrust investigation and already issued compulsory subpoenas for industry information.
USDA data show fertilizer has posted farmers’ biggest input-cost increase since 2020, and DTN pegged anhydrous ammonia at $1,118 a ton last week after rising from $795 in January and $950 by mid-March.
Farmers at the Texas field hearing said decades of consolidation left a few suppliers controlling most sales, with alleged retaliation against retailers, no practical substitutes for N, P and K, and little evidence of actual supply shortages.
Ferguson said high prices alone do not prove illegality, but the FTC needs retailers and farmers to provide hard evidence and testimony before it can take on companies backed by major legal resources.
The probe adds to broader federal pressure on farm inputs, alongside FTC cases against Deere, Corteva and Syngenta and new USDA and congressional efforts to expand fertilizer production and price reporting.
Could the federal probe into fertilizer giants lead to the first major corporate breakup in the agricultural sector?
Is corporate price-gouging or global crisis the true cause of soaring fertilizer costs for American farmers?
With fertilizer costs at record highs, how long until the price of your groceries follows suit?
Breaking Down the 2026 Fertilizer Price Spike: Antitrust Action, Farmer Hardship, and Market Outlook
Overview
Over the past two years, American farmers have faced unprecedented increases in fertilizer costs, with prices for key nutrients like urea and diammonium phosphate reaching historic highs. This dramatic surge, reported to be as much as 300% in some regions since early 2020, has severely impacted farmers' profitability and planting decisions. Widespread frustration has grown as farmers voiced concerns about a lack of competitive options and opaque pricing structures in a market dominated by a few large companies. These conditions led to allegations of price gouging and monopolistic practices, fueling calls for federal investigation and regulatory action.