News

Fertilizer companies face farmer requests for tariff relief, lawsuit

Ag groups are pushing back on fertilizer trade policy. In a letter sent last week, 64 state and national organizations have asked Mosaic and J.R. Simplot to drop support for phosphate import duties the groups say are inflating prices.

Also on Friday, a class action antitrust lawsuit was filed against several major fertilizer producers and distributors, alleging price fixing and coordinated supply restraint for nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (potash) fertilizers. 

As of Tuesday, the companies have not responded to the farm groups’ request, and the Colorado District Court has not assigned a judge to the lawsuit.

Iowa-based Union Line Farms is named as the lead plaintiff.  The lawsuit alleges The Mosaic Company, Nutrien LTD, Nutrien Ag Solutions, Inc., CF Industries Holdings, Inc., CF Industries, Inc., CF Industries Nitrogen, LLC., Koch Agronomic Services, LLC., Yara International ASA., Yara North America, Inc., and Canpotex LTD. All conspired to keep fertilizer prices high.

Below, find the initial complaint filed in the Colorado District Court.