Bipartisan group warns US Congress of potential agriculture crisis

A group of former U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) officials and agricultural organization leaders has urged Congress to address the worsening economic situation in the country’s farm sector. In a letter to the House and Senate agriculture committees, they warned of a potential “widespread collapse of American agriculture.”

The authors of the letter said a series of policy decisions in recent years have negatively affected farmers. They noted that farm bankruptcies have doubled, only about half of U.S. farms are expected to be profitable this year, and the country’s agricultural trade balance remains near historic lows.

The letter was signed by 27 representatives of the agricultural industry, including leaders from corn, soybean, wheat, dairy, pork, and biofuel organizations, as well as former government officials from both political parties. They emphasized that rising input costs, trade disruptions, labor shortages, USDA funding cuts, and reduced support for research and food programs have contributed to the current situation.

The signatories also proposed a nine-point plan to stabilize the agricultural economy. The measures include removing tariffs on farm inputs, advancing trade agreements, passing a new farm bill, reforming farm labor programs, and restoring funding for agricultural research and food assistance programs.

Officials from the Donald Trump administration rejected the criticism, stating that the government is using all available tools to support farmers. USDA representatives said expanded international market access, tax changes, and farm safety-net programs are intended to help the sector recover after a difficult period.

One of the letter’s signatories, former National Corn Growers Association CEO Jon Doggett, said the initiative aims to start a broader conversation about the future of U.S. agriculture. According to him, farmers are increasingly concerned about tariff policies, labor shortages, and market instability.

Tags: USA, agricultural sector