Corn growers push fertilizer antitrust action + pork industry influence
Corn growers push fertilizer antitrust action + pork industry influence
A news briefing from Farm Action’s policy team
July 16, 2026
State corn organizations urging DOJ to expedite investigations into anticompetitive conduct
What happened: Over fifteen state corn growers associations sent a letter to Senate Judiciary Committee leadership urging the Department of Justice to complete their investigation of anticompetitive practices in the fertilizer industry as soon as possible. The letter acknowledges the impact that recent geopolitical events have had on fertilizer pricing, but points to a long-term lack of antitrust law enforcement as the underlying crisis driving high input costs. The groups pointed to Federal Trade Commission and Department of Justice investigations into the industry as welcome news, but highlighted the need for the government to take concrete action to restore competitive input markets.
Source: Iowa Corn
Why it matters: The letter argues that today’s fertilizer crisis is about more than wars or supply chain disruptions—it’s about market power. When just a handful of companies dominate an industry, external shocks can become opportunities to raise prices and boost profits. During the 2021-22 fertilizer crisis, some of the industry’s largest companies saw profits increase as much as sevenfold while farmers were told high prices were simply the unavoidable cost of global events. The corn growers are arguing that explanation only goes so far—and that it’s time for regulators to ask whether market power played an even bigger role.
Rep. Ashley Hinson received thousands from pork industry while pushing Prop 12 repeal
What happened: Rep. Ashley Hinson, one of Congress’s leading proponents of the Save Our Bacon Act—a bill that would effectively overturn California’s Proposition 12—has received more than $65,000 in campaign contributions from pork industry interests over the past five years, according to campaign finance records. The contributions include $20,000 from the National Pork Producers Council PAC, more than $7,500 from Tyson Foods’ political action committee, $5,250 from groups associated with Smithfield Foods, and $15,700 from Jeffrey and Debra Hansen, owners of Iowa Select Farms, Iowa’s largest pork producer.
Source: The Daily Beast
Why it matters: The companies and industry groups financing Hinson’s campaigns stand to benefit financially greatly if Proposition 12 is overturned. By eliminating California’s production standards, the Save Our Bacon Act would reduce compliance costs and preserve access to one of the country’s largest pork markets for producers that do not meet Proposition 12’s requirements. The overlap between corporate financial interests and political giving highlights a broader concern in agriculture: as industries become more concentrated, dominant companies gain greater ability to influence the policies that govern them, often advancing legislative priorities that align with their business interests.
Source: Farm Action