Fertilizer Price Increase Investigation

Stueve Siegel Hanson is investigating collusion among the nation’s largest fertilizer producers to inflate prices. Since 2021 prices farmers pay for fertilizer inputs such as nitrogen, potash, and phosphorus (known as “NPK”) have risen dramatically.  

Reportedly the U.S. Department of Justice launched an investigation into price fixing by the leading fertilizer producers including Nutrien, Mosaic, CF Industries Holdings, Koch Fertilizer, and Yara International. The US fertilizer industry has seen dramatic consolidation in recent years and today four firms control 75% of the nitrogen fertilizer market and only two firms control nearly 100% of the potash market. Prices US farmers paid for NPK rose dramatically in recent years with Nitrogen prices up 95%, Potash prices up over 70%, and phosphorus prices recently reached all-time highs. Fertilizer input price increases added an estimated $128,000 in cost per farm for feed grain operations in 2022.

Recently the US Department of Agriculture also expressed concerns over fertilizer producer market concentration and is supporting the federal investigation into potential collusion and price fixing that has driven up input costs for farmers.

Stueve Siegel Hanson is based in the heartland and farming is in the lifeblood of where we live and practice. We believe farmers are the backbone of our country and have a long history handling cases on their behalf. We combine our understanding of agriculture, the farming community and our experience taking on large, often multinational, corporations in agriculture, financial services, insurance, and manufacturing to advocate for farmers’ need to run their business on a level playing field.

If you are a farmer who purchased NPK fertilizers since 2021 contact Stueve Siegel Hanson to learn more about your potential claims by emailing fertilizer@stuevesiegel.com or calling 855-803-8377.