250 Years of American Agriculture at a Pivotal Moment
Key Takeaways
- As America celebrates its 250th birthday, we honor the hardworking farm families who provide for us day in and day out.
- America’s farm families have weathered incredible challenges, but the current moment is daunting.
- Congress and the Administration must act to stave off further downturn in the farm economy, and ensure that this great American tradition can be sustained for generations to come.
This weekend, our nation celebrated its 250th birthday. Fireworks, parades, and cookouts made possible by America’s farm and ranch families made this celebration one to remember.
For 250 years, America’s farm families have done it all: planted, harvested, fed, fueled, clothed, weathered countless challenges, and adapted and innovated at every turn. The current state of play in farm country brings a new set of challenges, and as farm families weigh the path forward for their operations, here’s just a few factors they must contend with:
- Over the past 5 years, average operating costs have increased by 35%.
- Losses for major row crops are projected to be in the red for another year in 2026.
- Recently, farm diesel prices recently surged 72% while fertilizer prices jumped more than 50%.
- Producers across all regions are facing weather challenges and market volatility.
- When America’s farm families suffer, rural communities suffer. Producers are stressing the importance of growing domestic demand, opening new markets, and holding foreign nations accountable for skirting the rules.
- Unfair trade practices have harmed America’s sugar farm families and workers to the tune of over $3 billion in the past two years alone.
- Recent closures of rice mills across Arkansas demonstrate the result of mounting challenges year after year.
- Corn growers are calling for Congress to pass nationwide, year-round E15; cotton growers have worked hand in hand with the Administration to stress the importance – and many benefits! – of wearing 100% cotton; while sugar and rice producers have urged the Administration to take action as unfair foreign trade practices undermine America’s farm families.
- A nation that cannot feed itself is a nation less secure. Congress and the Administration must continue to stand by our farm families.
As farmers contend with these issues – and many more – producers and lawmakers are weighing what happens next.
In late June, Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman John Boozman (R-AR) unveiled his discussion draft of “The Agricultural Act of 2026”, or, “Farm Bill 2.0” following the House’s bipartisan passage in May. The measure builds upon the key wins included as part of the reconciliation package – wins including a bolstered farm safety net through higher reference prices and strengthened crop insurance – the cornerstone of the farm safety net.
Chairman Boozman stated, “Our farmers, ranchers and foresters help feed, fuel and clothe our nation, yet they are facing some of the most difficult economic conditions in decades. Rising inflation, steep input costs and low market prices have created enormous financial pressure. For too many farm families, including those operating multi-generational farms, the path forward has become increasingly uncertain.”
A formal markup of Farm Bill 2.0 in the Senate has not yet been scheduled as Chairman Boozman and Ranking Member Klobuchar (D-MN) iron out key differences. We will continue to watch this closely – a bipartisan Farm Bill sends a strong signal to farm country.
Meanwhile, President Trump formally submitted a supplemental appropriations request to Congress including over $11 billion for producers. According to the request, “[T]his supplemental request includes an additional $11.1 billion to support American farmers. This includes $10 billion in temporary economic assistance for row and specialty crops planted in crop year 2026. An additional $1.1 billion is requested to help the State of Florida’s agricultural producers to rebound from devastating losses that were the result of crippling storms this past winter.”
Producers are expected to face losses of over $60 billion over the past two years alone. America’s farm families are resilient – but not immune to the challenges at hand. As lawmakers chart the path forward for Farm Bill 2.0 and emergency assistance, we urge them to consider the future for American agriculture.
America’s farm families have always found a way – living out the tenacious, larger-than-life visions of our forefathers who dreamt of what could be, rather than settling for good enough.
With smart farm policy decisions, we can ensure that our Nation’s farm families can keep this tradition going – not just for today, but for generations to come.
Happy birthday, America.