U.S. Farm Policy in Turmoil
The Farm Bill's renewal and an open letter to Congress
Welcome to Plating Progress: Edition 12, a newsletter on the sustainability of our global food systems.
Now, let’s dive in!
U.S. Farm Policy in Turmoil
With 2026 well underway, American farmers are increasingly concerned about the agricultural policies planed for the year. What are farmers concerned about? That another year will pass with no positive policy changes. The U.S. Farm Bill, which covers everything from agricultural subsidies to crop insurance, is supposed to be revised every five years. But the last time it was comprehensively passed was in 2018, and since 2023 the bill has simply limped along with individual items being extended as needed. This year, Congress is supposed to be issuing a new Farm Bill, but individuals close to the federal government already say that it is unlikely to happen. The key concern is not having enough votes to pass a new Farm Bill, despite Republicans controlling both the House and Senate.
Then there are the trade agreements and tariffs that impact the global agricultural market. U.S. farmers have complained about the impact of President Trump’s trade policies, even writing an open letter warning of a “widespread collapse” in American agriculture. But congressional agricultural committees do not seem to be paying attention. Costs of inputs like fertilizer, seeds, and equipment continue to increase due to tariffs. Meanwhile, exports markets are drying up as foreign trading blocs make agreements without the U.S. In fact, on the trading front, the situation could actually be getting worse as it is rumored that Trump plans to exit the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement that he negotiated during his first term.
Context
Where does this leave U.S. farmers? The economics for farming right now are difficult to say the least. Prices are down, costs are up, and external factors like labor and climate change are compounding the headache for farmers. Bankruptcies are up and farmland is now being sold to private developers for data centers and warehouses. Without policy intervention, the U.S. agriculture sector is on course for even more trouble. As Jon Doggett, the former chief executive of the National Corn Growers Association, recently said, “Our farmers and ranchers can compete with the world, but they can’t compete with the world with a chaotic set of policy circumstances.”