With the U.S. farm economy stuck in a tailspin, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins said federal prosecutors will be taking a closer look at the causes of high and volatile input costs plaguing farmers

Rollins announced the U.S. Department of Justice signed a memorandum of understanding with USDA, “that represents a joint commitment by both agencies” to protect farmers and ranchers from unacceptable increases in feed, fertilizer, fuel, seed, equipment and other “essential goods.”

Rollins says the agencies also want to ensure competitive supply chains, lower consumer prices and a more resilient agriculture and food supply.

The Antitrust Division of DOJ will work with the USDA, Rollins says, to, “take a hard look and scrutinize competitive conditions in the agricultural marketplace, including antitrust enforcement that promotes free market competition.”

Rollins says she is especially concerned about undue influence in the fertilizer market, given that a “significant portion” of the country’s fertilizer production is overseas.

“The cost of doing business for farmers and ranchers has increased drastically, and commodity prices slumped. The Trump administration is holding these companies accountable and will investigate why input prices have not come back down,” Rollins says.

At the Agriculture Outlook Forum in Kansas City, Rollins spoke on the current state of the farm economy, noting U.S. farm production inputs are significantly more…