Former US agriculture officials, top Republican senator warn of farm country trouble

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Reuters

February 3, 2026 7:05 PM EST Updated 1 hour ago


CHICAGO, Feb 3 (Reuters) - The chair of the U.S. Senate's agriculture committee warned on Tuesday that farmers were suffering heavy losses, while more than two dozen former industry leaders sounded the alarm about the risk of a "widespread collapse of American agriculture" ahead of a $12 billion government bailout expected to reach growers this month.

For three years, the costs of seed, fertilizer and other farm inputs rose, while plentiful grain supplies limited profits for farmers, economists said.

Then, President Donald Trump returned to office last year, sparking trade disputes that disrupted U.S. crop exports and immigration crackdowns that increased labor costs and left some farms with crops rotting in fields.

Many farmers are now bracing to potentially lose money for a fourth consecutive year. Tough credit conditions are forcing those with limited cash flows to make decisions about what acres to plant and how much fertilizer to buy, economists said.

Read more: https://www.reuters.com/business/finance/former-us-agriculture-officials-top-republican-senator-warn-farm-country-trouble-2026-02-04/

[Javaman]

1. and just whom did they vote for? hmmm? nt

[RamblingRose]

2. they'll get their bailout & continue to be MAGA

[popsdenver]

3. They didn't learn in Trump's first term

"widespread collapse of American agriculture" should actually read:

widespread collapse of PRIVATE, Family Owned American agriculture farms.....(AND ranches)...............

All of these family owned farms going bankrupt is just another opportunity for the massive Corporate Farms to sweep in and get these family held farms and their equipment at bargain basement sale prices..........

At the same time, the UBER wealthy are taking money out of the Stock Market and Investments and investing in all the land they can buy up................Same with Private Equity firms, and Corporations.......(a Harbinger of things to come??????)