{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://fedorchak.house.gov/media/press-releases/fedorchak-joins-colleagues-urging-usda-and-doj-identify-regulations-hindering", "Fedorchak joins colleagues in urging USDA and DOJ to identify regulations hindering ag input competition", "2026-01-16", "2026", "2026-01", "Republican", "House", "ND", "Julie Fedorchak", "F000482", "fedorchak.house.gov", "fedorchak", "https://fedorchak.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "KEY LETTER EXCERPTS:\n\n\u201cIn 2024, nominal production expenditures per farm increased by over 39 percent\n\ncompared to 2020. These rising input costs coupled with low commodity prices have fueled an economic crisis in Rural America, and it\u2019s why the efforts by your agencies to promote competition in the agricultural input marketplace are critical for our nation\u2019s farmers and ranchers, especially as family farm bankruptcies increased by 55 percent in 2024 alone.\n\n[...]\n\n\u201cStrong, consistent enforcement of existing antitrust provisions is critical to ensuring a fair and competitive marketplace that protects America\u2019s producers and ultimately helps to make food affordable for all consumers.\n\n[...]\n\n\u201cProducers and manufacturers have long-held concerns about costly permitting and compliance obligations that federal regulations have imposed on their businesses. Overregulation not only restricts employment, limits production, and slows down the construction of new input production capacity, but it can often keep new innovations and entrants out of the marketplace, since these businesses have fewer resources to comply with a burdensome regulatory structure.\n\n\u201cAs you partner to ensure a competitive supply chain for our farmers and ranchers, we request that you respond to this letter, by February 13, 2026, with a list of regulations across all agencies that impede competition in the marketplace for agricultural inputs.\u201d\n\nCLICK HERE to read the full letter.\n\n\u201cRising costs for fertilizer, seed, and equipment have placed enormous strain on farmers across the Cotton Belt,\u201d said Gary Adams, President and CEO of the National Cotton Council. \u201cTo help these producers, we must address unnecessary regulatory burdens and ensure that agricultural input markets remain fair and competitive. The National Cotton Council appreciates the leadership of Representative Arrington and other Members of Congress for bringing attention to these challenges.\u201d\n\n\u201cCorn growers nationwide just finished a third consecutive year of net negative returns,\u201d said Jed Bower, Ohio farmer and President of the National Corn Growers Association. \u201cInput prices remain at near-record highs as corn prices per bushel have sharply dropped. That\u2019s why NCGA appreciates the efforts by Rep. Arrington and other members Congress to address the root causes of high input costs while supporting competition.\u201d\n\n\u201cFarmers continue to face rising input costs and limited competition,\u201d said Barry Evans, Board Member of the National Sorghum Producers. \u201cEnforcing existing antitrust laws and reviewing regulatory barriers are important steps toward promoting fairness and choice in the agricultural marketplace.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T15:05:35Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://fedorchak.house.gov/media/press-releases/fedorchak-joins-colleagues-urging-usda-and-doj-identify-regulations-hindering"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.212768955156207, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}