The second Trump administration has paid more attention to antitrust concerns in the agriculture industry, but the episode shows that, in at least some respects, they are trying to ‘reinvent the wheel,’ experts said.
The agreement relates to Bayer’s use of loyalty programs to sell its seeds. Federal authorities have said loyalty programs in the seed industry have raised prices for farmers.
Feedlots, where cattle are finished on grain after grazing, are becoming larger. Smaller operations are declining, while the largest feedlots continue to expand their market share, reflecting ongoing consolidation across
Key trade agreements, the legality of the global trade war, Agri Stats’ antitrust case, more USDA moves, and rulings on dicamba and glyphosate predicted to grab industry headlines.
Federal prosecutors are moving to scrutinize high input costs as farmers face slimmer margins. USDA forecast data shows expenses climbing to $467.4 billion while crop receipts weaken for staples such as corn and soybeans.
This month, the Biden administration finalized new rules related to the Packers and Stockyards Act, which regulates competition in the meat and poultry industries.
The reports Agri Stats produces and shares with meat processing companies are so detailed they can be used to fix prices, according to numerous lawsuits.
