USDA Publishes Requests for Information on Fertilizer, Seed, Retail to Address Growing Competition Concerns in the Agricultural Supply Chain

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is announcing the publication of the details of three requests for information regarding seeds and agricultural inputs, fertilizer, and retail markets in the Federal Register on March 17. The publication of the RFIs opens USDA’s public inquiry to address growing competition concerns in the agricultural supply chain announced on March 11.

With these RFIs, USDA is also seeking information on competition and market access for farmers and ranchers, new and growing market competitors, especially small and medium-sized enterprises, and more about the context for these markets for farmers.

USDA is seeking information specifically on:

• Fertilizer.
• Seed and agricultural inputs, in particular as they relate to the intellectual property system.
• Retail, including access to retail through wholesale and distribution markets. 

Comments may be submitted to Regulations.gov until May 16, 2022. USDA will use the comments received to develop reports mandated under the Competition E.O., and to develop policies relating to fair and competitive markets, supply chain resiliency, pandemic response, local and regional food systems, and other areas. Subsequent actions may range from new grant and loan programs to additional rules and regulations under the Packers and Stockyards Act of 1921 and other relevant laws to increase fairness and competition in American agricultural markets.

More information about this request for information is available at www.ams.usda.gov/about-ams/fair-competitive.

Original source can be found here.