The South Dakota Corn Growers Association urged federal lawmakers to increase transparency and competition in the fertilizer industry during testimony Wednesday (May 14, 2026) before the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry.
Trent Kubik, President of the South Dakota Corn Growers Association and a farmer from Hamill, South Dakota, testified before the committee about the growing financial pressure fertilizer costs are placing on farmers across the country.
“Farmers understand that input costs can fluctuate, but what we are seeing in the fertilizer market raises serious concerns,” Kubik said. “Despite lower natural gas costs in the United States compared to other fertilizer-producing regions of the world, fertilizer prices continue to rise while major manufacturers report record profits. Farmers deserve a more transparent and competitive marketplace.”
During his testimony, Kubik pointed to growing market concentration within the fertilizer industry and concerns surrounding vertical integration among major manufacturers and distributors. He noted that fewer fertilizer firms now serve American farmers than in previous decades and argued that consolidation has not resulted in lower costs for growers.
“Market power should not come at the expense of farmers and consumers,” Kubik said. “We need more transparency, stronger competition and better information so producers can make informed decisions and better manage risk.”
The South Dakota Corn Growers Association voiced support for two pieces of federal legislation designed to improve fertilizer market transparency and competition:
- S. 4152, the Fertilizer Transparency Act of 2026, which would improve public access to fertilizer pricing data and help farmers better anticipate input costs.
- S. 2808, the Fertilizer Research Act, which would authorize a study on fertilizer competition, pricing trends and industry capacity utilization.
The organization thanked Senator John Thune for his leadership on the issue and called on federal agencies to continue addressing concentration in the fertilizer sector.
“Competition is the lifeblood of our economy,” Kubik said. “The only long-term solution for meaningful price relief is greater competition and more participants in the fertilizer manufacturing marketplace.”
The South Dakota Corn Growers Association said it will continue advocating for policies that strengthen competition, improve market transparency and protect the economic viability of family farms.
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