Fertilizer Fight Reaches the FTC

Most people never think about fertilizer until food prices rise but farmers feel the pinch in preparation and planting. Behind every harvest is a complex supply chain that can have a major impact on what consumers pay at the grocery store. The handful of companies that control the fertilizer industry has come under the spotlight of federal officials. North Dakota farmer Adam Ladwig was a part of a meeting with the head of the Federal Trade Commission addressing the issues of fertilizer costs and corporate consolidation. The discussion offers a rare look into how market power, government oversight and global events intersect with the everyday business of growing food.