WASHINGTON (DTN) -- USDA Deputy Secretary Stephen Vaden continued his criticisms about concentration in the fertilizer industry, calling out The Mosaic Company for announcing it will close phosphorus mines in Brazil.

Vaden spoke to members of North American Agricultural Journalists (NAAJ) on Monday, with most of his comments focused on fertilizer markets and USDA's reorganization plans.

Vaden raised broader concerns about market concentration, noting a small number of companies dominate key fertilizer segments.

USDA is working with the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) on ongoing investigations into fertilizer and other agricultural input costs, the deputy secretary said.

Vaden encouraged farmers to reach out with their concerns that could be used as the DOJ and FTC continue looking into the issue. "We know that farmers might have a lot of information," Vaden said.

President Donald Trump also made it clear over the weekend his administration is paying attention to the price spikes in fertilizer that have hit since the U.S. and Israel launched attacks on Iran at the end of February.

"I am watching fertilizer prices CLOSELY during our FIGHT FOR FREEDOM in Iran," Trump posted on Truth Social on Saturday. "The United States will not accept PRICE GOUGING from the fertilizer monopoly! American Farmers, we have your back!"

Vaden has been a vocal critic of the fertilizer industry and was a judge for the International Trade Commission from 2021 to 2025, when he ruled on appeals of the countervailing duties on Moroccan phosphate fertilizer in a case that was pressed by Mosaic and Simplot.

WHY IDLE PLANTS?

Speaking to reporters, Vaden challenged Mosaic's announcement last week that the company would idle production at two plants in Brazil -- removing roughly 1 million metric tons of phosphate fertilizer from the global market -- as contradicting basic supply-and-demand economics at a time when prices remain historically high.

In a news release last week, Mosaic stated the impact on Mosaic's bottom line would be small, in part because of higher fertilizer prices. "We believe idling the facilities and pursuing a potential sale is the right path forward," said Bruce Bodine, Mosaic's president and CEO. "This decision reflects Mosaic's continued focus on discipline around capital allocation and returns. We are grateful for our employees at both locations -- their years of dedication to safety and contributions to helping the world grow the food it needs have been critical to our success."

DTN reached out to Mosaic but did not receive an immediate response.

With fertilizer prices elevated for multiple years, Vaden argued the global market is signaling a need for more supply -- not less. He questioned why a major producer would scale back output under those conditions.

"You take a million tons of supply out of the international market, that affects the price worldwide," Vaden said. "It will only lead to one thing -- higher prices."

Because fertilizer is globally traded, he stressed that production decisions in Brazil or elsewhere ripple directly into costs paid by U.S. farmers.

Vaden framed fertilizer prices as the clearest indicator of market need.

"Price is the clearest economic indicator," he said. "When the price is high, it's telling you we need more of whatever the price is high for."

Vaden added, "At a time when everyone is saying we need more supplies ... why would they cut supply? They're playing games."

He suggested the actions could be aimed at tightening supply and supporting profit margins, raising questions about whether current pricing reflects true market competition.

CONTINUING TO PRESS ON COUNTERVAILING DUTIES

Drawing on his previous role as a judge on the Court of International Trade, Vaden highlighted a fertilizer trade case involving Mosaic and Simplot, saying he pushed to make the case record public over industry objections. Vaden said he pressed for an open record on the appeal while the companies fought the disclosure. Eventually, the appeals court ruled the case record should remain open.

"If there's nothing to hide, why try to keep the record sealed?" he said, encouraging reporters to review the now-public filings. Vaden suggested the record includes statements that conflict with current industry claims about supply and pricing.

Vaden also pointed to growing divisions within the fertilizer industry over countervailing duties on imports. He noted that Nutrien recently indicated the tariff order may not be necessary -- a position he said the company made public after meeting with USDA officials.

"At a certain point, Mosaic is going to be on an island by itself," Vaden said.

The comments suggest increasing pressure on existing trade protections as policymakers weigh their impact on fertilizer costs for farmers.

ANTITRUST CONCERNS AND MARKET CONCENTRATION

He pointed to a joint venture between major firms operating in Canada, describing it as "collusion" that could not legally operate in the United States under antitrust law.

"We don't have anywhere near the number of people competing for farmers' business in the fertilizer market," he said. "That's a problem."

Vaden said farmers have reported pricing patterns that raise additional questions about how fertilizer markets operate.

He described situations where dealers were able to predict price increases months in advance -- a dynamic he said is unusual for commodities typically influenced by open market trading.

"How many commodities do you know of where salesmen call and tell you today the price is X, next month it's Y, and later it's Z -- and it's only going one direction?" he said.

USDA is working to create channels for farmers to confidentially share such information to support federal investigations.

NEW COMPETITION SEEN AS KEY

Vaden emphasized that increasing competition -- not restricting imports -- is the most effective way to lower fertilizer prices over time.

He highlighted new market entrants, including BHP, which is developing a major potash project in Saskatchewan, expected to begin supplying North America. That facility, once fully operational, will produce about 8.5 million metric tons of potash for the global market.

As new companies invest billions into fertilizer production, Vaden cautioned existing players from attempting to disrupt exports.

"We can't allow them to stand in the way of new market entrants," he said.

Ultimately, he argued that more supply and more competition are the only sustainable paths to lower costs.

"There are only two ways you can steal market share," Vaden said. "You provide more supply, or you provide it at a lower cost. Either way, the market benefits."

As fertilizer prices remain a top concern heading into the peak of planting season, Vaden said the focus must remain on ensuring farmers have reliable, competitively priced access to critical inputs.

"We need more fertilizer," he said. "The prices are telling us that."

FARM BUREAU KEEPS PRESSING

Speaking earlier at the event, John Newton, vice president of public policy and economic analysis with the American Farm Bureau Federation, said Farm Bureau began alerting the White House about fertilizer issues just days after the Iran invasion. With the spike in both fertilizer and diesel prices, Newton said he continues to hear from farmers who are idling equipment or land and leasing out their ground because they are burning through their equity.

"They are going to have to pay a significantly higher price to put a crop in the ground this spring," Newton said.

Newton also said AFBF leadership have a meeting scheduled this week with White House staff to again talk about input challenges.

Newton noted AFBF proposed several changes to fertilizer policy, including freezing the maritime Jones Act. He also noted farmers faced similar problems in 2022. The Biden administration offered $500 million to spur more fertilizer production, but that was basically a "drop in the bucket" of what it takes to build more fertilizer capacity.

"Now is the time to start thinking strategically," Newton said.

Also see, "5 Fertilizers Significantly More Expensive, Urea Up 34% From Month Ago," https://www.dtnpf.com/….

"NCGA Survey: Rising Alarm About Fertilizer Costs and Availability in 2027," https://www.dtnpf.com/….

Chris Clayton can be reached at Chris.Clayton@dtn.com

Follow him on social platform X @ChrisClaytonDTN

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