By Tom Green
Farmers growing our major U.S. crops of corn, soybeans, wheat, rice, cotton and peanuts are facing record loses due to steeply depressed crop prices over the past few years, coupled with persistently high, and rising, production expenses.
Today’s cost-price squeeze poses an existential threat for many farmers and all rural communities. Experts are projecting that per acre loses will likely grow, and exceed $100 an acre on many farms. Plus, loses are likely to persist for at least a few years, and may grow even larger.
HHRA decided to compile and vet policy reforms to change the trajectory of U.S. agriculture for two reasons.
First, we read the provocative September 30, 2025 piece by Chris Bennett in AgWeb entitled “Outraged Farmers Blame Ag Monopolies as Catastrophic Collapse Looms”. The frustration expressed, and heartful pleas of farmers for help in getting through the current crisis, struck a nerve. We urge everyone to read this piece.
Second, as anyone working in food and ag is well aware, new tariffs imposed by the U.S. essentially shut off, or dramatically reduced, sales of soybeans, corn, and other crops to some of our major overseas customers. This has further undercut already depressed market prices, leading to ballooning surpluses. It has also triggered the need for another round of multi-billion dollar payments to farmers.
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