Iowa farmers and state legislators are set to meet with Federal Trade Commission Chair, Lina Khan, this Saturday to discuss the implications of Koch Industries’ recent acquisition of the Iowa Fertilizer Company. The $3.6 billion deal, announced by OCI Global in December 2023, awaits regulatory approval. Concerns have been raised about the potential consequences of the acquisition, including the impact on fertilizer costs for farmers, the welfare of the Lee County plant’s 260 employees and their families, and the implications for tax incentives applied to the Iowa Fertilizer Company. The Iowa Farmers Union (IFU), National Farmers Union (NFU), State Innovation Exchange (SiX), and Iowa State Representatives Elinor Levin, Megan Srinivas, and J.D. Scholten will host the meeting, providing a platform for farmers to voice their concerns directly to Chair Khan. The listening session, scheduled for Saturday, April 20 at 10:30 a.m., aims to gather perspectives from Iowa farmers and community members on the acquisition’s potential impact on rural communities. Attendees are encouraged to RSVP using the information included below.
______
eme@stateinnovation.org