The Justice Department’s Antitrust Division and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) formalizing a partnership to protect competition in key agricultural markets such as feed, fertilizer, fuel, seed, equipment, and other essential goods. This partnership strengthens longstanding coordination between the agencies with a particular focus on ensuring coordination with respect to ensuring farmers and ranchers have competitive access to agricultural inputs.

“Antitrust enforcement ensures free market competition for agricultural inputs, lowering costs for farmers and prices for consumers,” said Assistant Attorney General Abigail Slater of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “America’s farmers deserve nothing less than the best the Antitrust Division and USDA can do to promote competitive markets that free them to feed America.”   

The MOU signed on Sept. 26 by both agencies underscores their shared commitment to ensuring effective antitrust enforcement that promotes free market competition, lowering inputs costs and benefiting farmers, ranchers, and consumers. It creates channels for regular consultation and communication between the agencies to ensure effective coordination, where appropriate, to benefit efforts to promote competition. And it commits both agencies to designate personnel to facilitate communications between and among attorneys, economists, and technical experts.

DOJ and USDA Join Forces to Enhance Competition in Agriculture

The Justice Department’s Antitrust Division and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) have announced a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) aimed at protecting competition in key agricultural markets. This partnership is particularly focused on essential goods such as feed, fertilizer, fuel, seed, and equipment.

Assistant Attorney General Abigail Slater emphasized the importance of antitrust enforcement in ensuring free market competition, which ultimately lowers costs for farmers and benefits consumers. The MOU, signed on September 26, highlights the agencies' commitment to effective antitrust enforcement that promotes competitive markets.

The agreement establishes regular channels for consultation and communication between the DOJ and USDA, ensuring that both agencies can coordinate their efforts effectively. This collaboration is designed to enhance the competitive landscape for farmers and ranchers, ensuring they have access to necessary agricultural inputs at fair prices.



DOJ and USDA Join Forces to Enhance Competition in Agriculture

The Justice Department and USDA have formalized a partnership to protect competition in agricultural markets, focusing on essential inputs for farmers and ranchers.