On January 26, 2026, USDA Deputy Secretary Stephen Vaden publicly accused Nutrien and Mosaic of colluding to restrict fertilizer supply and inflate prices, warning that the administration is prepared to take action to inject competition into the market. The remarks, delivered during a webinar hosted by the National Agricultural Law Center, matter deeply for U.S. producers facing persistent pressure from high input costs, limited supplier options, and tightening margins.

"This administration is going to do everything it can to ensure that farmers have the fertilizer they need, at a price that they can pay," Vaden said. "We're not going to allow these two companies to undermine this."

According to data cited by Farm Action, an agricultural accountability group, Canada-based Nutrien and Florida-based Mosaic accounted for more than 90% of North American phosphate fertilizer and potash production in 2024. On the retail side, just seven companies control roughly 70% of crop input sales, including Nutrien Ag Solutions, the company's own distribution arm.

Vaden described this level of concentration as a "duopoly" that is constraining fertilizer supply in the United States and driving up the prices farmers are paying. The accusations arrive at a time when fertilizer costs remain one of the most sensitive components of farm profitability, especially for grain producers managing volatility in commodity prices.

The USDA deputy secretary said he is closely watching a new potash mining project in Saskatchewan, Canada, that could eventually export to the U.S. market and weaken the dominance of existing suppliers. While he did not name the project directly, the description aligns with BHP's more than $10 billion investment in a new potash mine that could begin operations by mid-2027.

Vaden emphasized that the administration is alert to any attempt by dominant firms to block or discourage new entrants. He pledged to protect "any new market participant that wants to come in, provide new fertilizer supply, and break up the game that Mosaic and Nutrien have been playing for the last several years."

Vaden also used the webinar to sharply criticize major farm equipment manufacturers, including John Deere, over policies that limit farmers' ability to repair their own machinery.

"This administration believes farmers should be able to repair their own equipment, and the industry's efforts to prevent them from doing so are illegal," Vaden said, referencing ongoing action by the Federal Trade Commission against John Deere and other manufacturers.

He argued that restrictive repair policies force farmers to rely on authorized dealers for even minor fixes, increasing downtime, lost productivity, and operating costs. Beyond repair restrictions, Vaden also questioned dealer territory systems that allegedly impose price penalties on farmers who purchase equipment outside their designated geographic area, further limiting competition.

Additionally, the requirement to use only OEM (original equipment manufacturer) parts was cited as another mechanism that raises the total cost of ownership for farm machinery.

Taken together, Vaden's statements signal a broader policy shift toward challenging market concentration across agricultural input sectors - from fertilizer and seed to machinery and distribution. For farmers, the outcome could shape future access to more competitive pricing, lower input costs, and greater autonomy over equipment management.

With ongoing debate over agricultural competition policy, farm profitability, and rural economic resilience, the fertilizer and right-to-repair battles are emerging as central themes in U.S. ag policy for 2026.