DOJ and USDA Strengthened Oversight of Farm Inputs
Agricultural operators should anticipate heightened scrutiny of competition in feed, seed, and equipment supply chains.
Updated on Oct. 6, 2026 in Agriculture
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The Department of Justice and the USDA signed a memorandum of understanding to formalize a partnership targeting anticompetitive conduct in agricultural markets. The agreement expands federal oversight to include key operational inputs like fuel, fertilizer, and machinery.
Why it matters
Federal regulators are prioritizing the resilience of the agricultural supply chain to protect farmers from unlawful market practices. By aligning enforcement efforts, the agencies aim to lower input costs and improve competition across the production sector.
This agreement builds upon a framework initiated in September 2025 to monitor market conduct. It covers six primary input categories, including feed, fertilizer, fuel, seed, equipment, and pesticides.
The players
Todd Blanche
The Attorney General of the United States who oversees federal legal strategy and antitrust enforcement operations.
Brooke L. Rollins
The Secretary of Agriculture who leads the federal department responsible for national food policy and rural market stability.
The details
The agencies will coordinate through the Agricultural Markets Enforcement Partnership to investigate potential violations and anticompetitive behavior. Operators should be aware that this partnership streamlines the flow of information and complaints regarding conduct affecting supply availability and pricing. The collaboration leverages DOJ antitrust enforcement powers alongside USDA industry expertise to address market bottlenecks.
Timeline
September 2025: The Antitrust Division entered the original memorandum of understanding.
October 5, 2026: The new memorandum of understanding was signed.
Market Landscape
This expansion broadens the scope of the 2025 Agricultural Markets Enforcement Partnership to include critical infrastructure and equipment inputs. It marks a shift from focused monitoring toward a comprehensive, cross-agency oversight model for the entire agricultural supply chain.
Operators should monitor their supply agreements for potential competition issues that could draw federal attention. Firms experiencing anticompetitive conduct may now report concerns directly to the Agricultural Markets Enforcement Partnership.
The takeaway
This coordinated effort signals a sustained, long-term focus on lowering input costs for agricultural producers. Business owners should document instances of exclusionary conduct and keep the Antitrust Division Citizen Complaint Center contact information on file for future reference.
Further reading
For broader trends in federal oversight, explore the latest Agriculture policy updates.
More information
Report suspected anticompetitive behavior through the Agricultural Markets Enforcement Partnership portal or by calling 1-888-647-3258.
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Should federal agencies intervene more actively in agricultural markets to promote competition and lower prices?
