WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today introduced the Fertilizer Transparency Act of 2026, bipartisan legislation that would provide American producers with more accurate information on prices for fertilizer and fertilizer products in response to longstanding concerns over rising input costs. The bill would require the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to collect and publish data on fertilizer prices from manufacturers on a weekly basis. Currently, USDA conducts an annual voluntary survey on the prices that producers pay for inputs.
“South Dakota’s producers have been facing some pretty fierce economic headwinds over the past few years,” said Thune. “Higher prices for fertilizer – and the uncertainty surrounding costs – have only strained their budgets even further. This legislation would empower producers with better information about fertilizer pricing so they can make cost-effective choices when it comes to purchasing key inputs for their crops.”
“We greatly appreciate Senator Thune’s introduction of the Fertilizer Transparency Act of 2026,” said Trent Kubik, president of the South Dakota Corn Growers Association. “Since 2022, corn farmers have paid record-setting prices for fertilizer. This bill will help to improve market signals by providing public access to meaningful pricing data and giving farmers a tool to help us plan for these costs. Ultimately, this legislation will make the market for key farm inputs more transparent and is a step toward making the market more competitive.”
Thune’s legislation is cosponsored by U.S. Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.).
