On April 13, 2026, U.S. Deputy Agriculture Secretary Stephen Vaden said he planned to meet with fertilizer company Mosaic that week. Reuters reported the announcement amid concerns about fertilizer prices and Vaden’s criticism of Mosaic’s plan to idle two phosphate facilities in Brazil. The April 14 report did not confirm whether the meeting took place or what, if anything, came of it.
Why was Vaden planning to meet with Mosaic?
Vaden announced the planned meeting while speaking to journalists at a North American Agricultural Journalists gathering. Reuters said the announcement came as officials and company representatives were discussing fertilizer prices. Vaden had also spoken with the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission about prices, and had met with fertilizer producer Nutrien a few weeks earlier. Reuters did not describe the content or outcome of those agency discussions or the Nutrien meeting.
Vaden separately criticized Mosaic’s plan to idle two phosphate production facilities in Brazil. He questioned the decision, saying: “What possible motivation other than further constraining supply, sowing uncertainty and padding their already sufficient profit margins could they possibly have?” That is Vaden’s criticism, not an independently established explanation of Mosaic’s motives.
What was Mosaic planning to do in Brazil?
Mosaic said the planned idling of two Brazilian phosphate facilities was part of a cost-saving initiative. The company said the move would reduce its annual phosphate production by about 1 million tonnes, according to Reuters. The report did not establish that the plan caused fertilizer prices in the United States to rise.
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What did officials and Mosaic say about fertilizer prices?
The public statements described by Reuters reflected different positions, rather than a verified finding about why prices were high:
- Donald Trump: On April 11, he alleged price gouging, posting that “the United States will not accept price gouging from the fertilizer monopoly” during the war with Iran. Reuters’ report did not establish that price gouging occurred.
- Mosaic: In a public post, the company cited supply and demand, weather, geopolitical conditions and other factors as drivers of fertilizer prices. Reuters paraphrased the post rather than providing a full verbatim statement.
- Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins: She criticized Mosaic’s response, posting: “So disappointed in this response,” Reuters reported.
Reuters said Mosaic did not immediately respond to its request for comment. That does not mean the company had no public position: the report also described its post about factors affecting prices.
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What is known about a government price-gouging finding?
The Reuters report records an accusation and discussions between Vaden and the Justice Department and Federal Trade Commission. It does not report an agency finding, investigation result, enforcement action or conclusion that fertilizer companies engaged in price gouging. Vaden’s objections to Mosaic’s Brazil production plan are distinct from proof of price manipulation.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Did the meeting happen, and what followed?
As of Reuters’ April 14, 2026 report, Vaden had announced that he intended to meet Mosaic during the week of April 13, but the report did not confirm that the meeting occurred. It also gave no outcome, commitment or subsequent enforcement action. The announcement alone therefore cannot establish that Mosaic changed its plans or that officials reached an agreement.
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Reported timeline
- April 11, 2026: Trump posted his price-gouging accusation; Mosaic posted its position that prices are affected by supply, demand and other conditions.
- April 13, 2026: Vaden told journalists he planned to meet Mosaic that week and criticized the Brazil facilities plan.
- April 14, 2026: Reuters published Leah Douglas’s account, reporting Mosaic’s planned idling of two Brazilian facilities and the company’s estimate of about 1 million tonnes less annual phosphate production.
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