A bipartisan group of former USDA and farm group leaders warned Congress about the farm economy’s deteriorating state. In a Feb. 3 letter to House and Senate ag committee leaders, they said current conditions represent a potential “widespread collapse of American agriculture.”
“The policies of this administration have caused tremendous harm to U.S. agriculture,” the letter states. “Farmer bankruptcies have doubled, barely half of all farms will be profitable this year, and the U.S. is running a historic agriculture trade deficit.”
Included among the 27 signers were leaders from corn, soybean, pork, barley, wheat, dairy and biofuel industries. Joining them were former government officials from both political parties with ag market and farm policy expertise.
According to at least three sources, multiple current farm group leaders were aware of the letter but were not directly involved in writing it.
In the letter, the former officials stated several factors, including increased input costs, trade disruptions, labor shortages, USDA cuts, and the deduction for foreign aid and domestic food programs have all contributed to the dire situation. According to the signers, administration policies have contributed to what the authors have deemed a “crisis.”
They noted that farm bankruptcies have doubled recently. About half of U.S. farms are expected to be profitable this year, and agriculture’s trade deficit remains near historic levels. Only a few years ago, there were record export surpluses and farm incomes.
“The reasons for the dramatic turnaround are complex, but it is clear that the current administration’s actions, along with congressional inaction, have increased costs for farm inputs, disrupted overseas and domestic markets, denied agriculture its reliable labor pool, and defunded critical ag research and staffing,” the letter states. “And these impacts are not happening in a vacuum. At the same time that farm country is reeling from these blows to agriculture, rural health care cuts are threatening a vital safety net for America’s farm families.”
9 solutions offered
As for solutions, the letter lays out a nine-point plan to improve the agriculture economy. Those points include:
- Immediately exempt all farm inputs from tariffs.
- Repeal tariffs that are disrupting agriculture export markets.
- Pass Trade Promotion Authority to enable the administration to pursue and secure meaningful, enforceable, free trade agreements that can be passed by Congress and have the full force and effect of law.
- Direct the administration to prioritize the negotiation of binding trade agreements with countries that need our agricultural products and that can help offset other market disruptions.
- Encourage the administration to expeditiously complete the review of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, favorably resolve the pending dairy dispute settlement case with Canada, and ensure that the USMCA is extended for the next 16 years.
- Pass legislation to enable nationwide E15, year-round ethanol,\ and sustainable aviation fuel to boost domestic markets for U.S. corn and soybeans.
- Pass a new farm bill.
- Pass farm labor reform including reform to the H-2A program.
- Restore funding for land-grant agriculture research, critical USDA staffing, and domestic and international food aid programs.
“We can only hope rural America will survive the current tumult long enough for the administration, Congress and leaders of both parties to recognize the threat and find the temerity to work together on real solutions,” the letter states.
Administration pushes back
Trump administration officials disputed the sharp criticisms leveled in the letter. When asked for reaction, a USDA spokesperson countered that the president is utilizing “all the tools available” to ensure farmers have what they need to continue their operation.
“President Trump is the most pro-farmer president of our lifetime, and through his leadership, the administration is supporting farmers through unprecedented international market access including over two dozen trade deals boosting ag market access and exports, lowered taxes, and improvements to the farm safety net in the One Big Beautiful Bill,” that spokesperson said. “The Trump administration has been working around the clock since Jan. 20 to put American farmers first after inheriting one of the worst farm economies the country has experienced in decades.”
Solutions over politics?
Superlative-heavy responses from USDA have become commonplace during the Trump administration. Spokespeople regularly blame all of agriculture’s ills on the Biden administration. Conversely, Trump is touted as “the best” or “the most” no matter the situation. While the Feb. 3 letter strongly criticizes the administration’s policies, it was not intended to be a political statement, according to one signer.
“This is a bipartisan group, and we just want to get this conversation going,” said Jon Doggett, former CEO of the National Corn Growers Association.
That conversation began in a small group last spring between Doggett and three or four others across the country who formerly worked in agriculture. They were concerned by Trump’s tariff plans and began having weekly calls to discuss important issues. That conversation group soon expanded to others who had dedicated their lives to agriculture. Eventually, the group decided it was time to draft a letter.
Since last spring, Doggett said he’s grown even more concerned about agriculture after witnessing events such as Trump’s “chaotic” tariff policy and his escalating deportation efforts.
“What does tariffs against the EU over Greenland have to do with me getting my soybean crop sold?” he asked.
According to Doggett, more people in agriculture need to have these types of conversations. He’s heard from many farmers who have opinions to share but are not comfortable doing so in casual conversations after church or at the local coffee shop.
While he is quick to point out that not every solution needs to come from Washington, he contends it’s important for lawmakers to be involved and know what kinds of conversations are happening around the country.
“We are in no way, shape or form trying to supplant the work that is done by trade associations and others. We just want to expand opportunities to have a conversation,” Doggett said. “Sometimes you’ve got to bring up some uncomfortable things in order to start a conversation, and here we are.”