Agricultural Leaders Warn Congress of Potential Farming Collapse

A bipartisan coalition of 27 former United States Department of Agriculture leaders and major agricultural associations warned Congress of a potential widespread collapse of American agriculture. The group attributes the crisis to President Donald Trump's administration, specifically citing trade policies and tariffs on farm inputs such as machinery and fertilizer that have eroded global competitiveness.

Data from the American Farm Bureau Federation shows farmers have accumulated losses exceeding 50 billion dollars over the last three years. Projections indicate that fewer than 50 percent of farms will be profitable in 2026. The coalition identified further destabilizing factors, including federal staffing cuts and labor shortages resulting from mass deportations that have impacted the H-2A visa program.

Agricultural organizations argue that the administration's Farmer Bridge Assistance program provides insufficient relief to cover these cumulative losses. The groups are calling for immediate economic support and specific tariff exemptions for farm inputs to stabilize the sector.