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Federal Agencies Sign Agreement to Tackle Agriculture Market Competition

By  |  October 2, 2025

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) have entered into a new memorandum of understanding aimed at addressing rising input costs that continue to challenge American farmers and ranchers. According to a statement, the agreement establishes a joint effort between the two agencies to examine market conditions, tackle anticompetitive practices, and help ensure affordable access to essential supplies.

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    The USDA emphasized that the memorandum reflects a shared commitment to protecting producers from the financial strain of high and volatile costs associated with feed, fertilizer, fuel, seed, equipment, and other goods. Per a statement, the agencies intend to coordinate efforts to keep agricultural supply chains competitive, improve resilience in food production, and lower prices for consumers.

    Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins explained that the partnership will extend into antitrust enforcement. “To take a hard look and scrutinize competitive conditions in the agricultural Marketplace, including antitrust enforcement that promotes free market competition. There will be more announcements on that to come, but that work begins today,” she said.

    Read more: US Agriculture Department and DOJ Launch Joint Antitrust Probe Into Agribusiness

    The move comes as concerns continue over consolidation within the agricultural sector. According to Bloomberg News, the industry has drawn scrutiny for its concentration, particularly in seed, fertilizer, and equipment markets. Those concerns were previously targeted by the Biden administration’s 2021 competition initiative, which was revoked last month by former President Donald Trump. A USDA study released in 2023 highlighted that two companies accounted for nearly 72 percent of U.S. corn seed sales, underscoring the limited options available to farmers.

    By formally aligning enforcement priorities, the USDA and DOJ aim to rein in market practices that may be contributing to cost burdens across the industry.

    Source: AG Info