Ohio Farmer shares comments about fertilizer prices with the Federal Trade Commission

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has launched a highly anticipated investigation into the fertilizer industry’s pricing practices and market concentration. Federal Trade Commission Chairman Andrew Ferguson recently announced the investigation at a gathering of farmers from across 18 states at a farm just outside of McKinney, Texas. John Settlemyre, an Ohio farmer from Clinton County was in attendance, and also shared his concerns at the event.

“Chairman Ferguson made clear what Ohio farmers have been saying for years — the fertilizer market is broken, and it is costing farm families real money,” Ohio Corn & Wheat Growers Association President Eric Tipton said. “When a handful of companies can drive up one of our most important input costs while farm income falls, farmers and consumers both pay the price. The FTC’s investigation is a necessary step toward restoring fairness, transparency and competition to the fertilizer market.”

The event titled “Fed Up: Fertilizer Cartel Profits off Farmers’ Backs and Your Grocery Bill”, took aim at the crushing input costs set by Mosaic, Nutrien, CF Industries and Koch.… Continue reading