The USDA is asking farmers to share their experiences with fertilizer prices and industry consolidation as federal officials investigate whether the market is operating fairly. Deputy Agriculture Secretary Stephen Vaden made the request during a meeting with farmers in Iowa Friday. He said individual stories could help the Federal Trade Commission investigate potential unfair pricing or anti-competitive practices in the fertilizer industry. Vaden says a large number of farmer experiences would be difficult to dismiss. “Anybody can explain away one thing, you might be able to explain away two or three things, but if we’ve got 100 such stories from farmers all across this country, it becomes very difficult,” Vaden said. The meeting also highlighted efforts to increase competition in fertilizer. Greenfield Nitrogen co-founder Linda Thrasher says her farmer-formed company has spent 12 years trying to develop a regional ammonia facility but has struggled to secure agreements with retailers and cooperatives that fear retaliation from larger providers.
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