Question 4

Question 4:

How do you feel about the consolidation of Agriculture input companies?

Follow up Questions:

Do you think the market concentration has impacted input prices, product availability, regulatory oversight or political influence?

What (if anything) should be done to protect against excessive market concentration?

Total Number of Submissions: 18
Interviewee accessed someone from within the farming community: 11/18
Interviewee was male 15/18
Interviewer did not include biographical date: 3/18
Average age of interviewees: 42

Interviewee provided a response that reflected a positive view of the consolidation of Agriculture input companies:
4/18

Interviewee provided a response that reflected both positive and negative views of the consolidation of Agriculture companies:
8/18

Interviewee provided a response that was reflected a negative view of the consolidation of Agriculture input companies:
6/18


Interviewee said that market concentration has impacted input prices, product availability, regulatory oversight or political influence:
10/18

Interviewee said that market concentration does not have an impact:
1/18

Interviewee provided suggestions as to what should be done to protect against excessive market concentration:
6/18

Interviewee was uncertain about what should be done to protect against excessive market concentration:
3/18

Interviewee responded that nothing could be done to protect against excessive market concentration:
2/18

Some highlights:

How do you feel about the consolidation of Agriculture input companies?

"It's not good because it is cutting down on competition and raises the prices for the farmer."

"There's a lot of companies. Each [is] improving there products every year."

"Consolidation of ag input companies could lead to the increase in input prices due to one or two companies controlling the whole market. This would be very bad for most small farmers."

"Consolidation of the Ag companies can both enhance and reduce market competition. It can both enhance and reduce market competition. It can improve the market efficiency by driving down production costs. I feel like agriculture is taking its place in the fast growing world. These 'new' companies will fly if they generate cost savings for the farmer."

"They are a necessary evil, there really isn't much you can do with them, or without them for that matter."

"We might lose the competition between companies."

"I feel that the consolidation is hurting small time farmers and businesses, but is necessary for success in the big business world today."

"The consolidation of these major ag input companies has made for huge savings in the prices of fertilizer because they are starting to form a sort of oligopoly market."

I think it gives them a lot of room for expansion, better ideas, technology, but then again it also builds more competition for jobs. But you also get better workers.

"Thinks they are a good thing. His place of work receives chemicals from ag input companies."

"It's bad for business because the bigger companies are riding out these local independents."


Follow Up Questions

Do you think the market concentration has impacted input prices, product availability, regulatory oversight or political influence?

"Yes, the prices have gone up and there are many products to choose from. Corn for example, prices are higher than ever."

"Market concentrations will always impact input prices; supply and demand. If one company can withhold supply it will raise demand and allow companies to sell higher."

"I think that the market concentration is hurting prices as well as leading to a lack of diversity in the market place."

"Yes, it has raised prices for the farmer. Also the bio-tech endorsement for just some companies shows the political influence that those companies have.

"No, I don't think they have."

Yes, it has effected price and diversity."

"Yes, the companies have almost a monopoly type squeeze on all the mentioned. They have the largest selections, can regulate the prices, but also use their size and money to develop more products, making them harder to do without. It is a circle that provides both good information/product and power/control."

"Yes, big corporations/producers have more control of availability than smaller producers"

What (if anything) should be done to protect against excessive market concentration?

"Enforce our anti-trust laws and encourage competition in the marketplace."

"It is up to the government to regulate these companies."

"Not really sure."

"There is no way to protect against excessive market concentration at this point in time. For example, Monsanto, how do you stop Monsanto from controlling any more, or even back them down a bit, of the market."

"Nothing."

"There should be some regulatory committee that stabilizes these prices and farmers need to push for further legislation to stop companies from doing this."

"Farmers could form a union to make bargains with companies."

"Don't buy foreign. IF we could keep more of our money in states instead of buying products from overseas."

"He doesn't think it could be stopped since the ball is already rolling."

"Government mandates and regulations."