Americans depend on American farmers. President Trump has pledged to support these farmers. Along with Republican leaders in Congress, he is working to fulfill that commitment. The stakes are higher than ever, as agriculture faces some of the most significant challenges in generations.
In the years since the last Farm Bill passed in 2018, farmers have been increasingly squeezed by rising costs, falling prices, and increasingly unpredictable weather. Since 2020, farmers have seen steep increases across all major input categories — fertilizer costs alone are up 60 percent, with similar spikes in fuel, machinery, repairs and chemicals. Between 2022 and 2024, commodity prices collapsed: corn down 37 percent, soybeans 29 percent, cotton 22 percent, wheat and sorghum 36 percent, and rice nearly 46 percent.
Meanwhile, foreign competitors continue to flood global markets with subsidized commodities, undercutting U.S. producers and distorting prices. In 2024, the United States recorded a $32 billion agricultural trade deficit, only the fourth such shortfall in the last 50 years. In May, the Agriculture Department forecast that the 2025 trade deficit will increase to $49.5 billion. It’s a national security risk. When America loses control of its food supply, we become more reliant on nations that may not share our values.
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said it well recently: “America’s family farms help feed, fuel and clothe the world, but they also face some of the greatest challenges in getting their farms started and keeping them running.” Since 2017, we have lost more than 140,000 farms, and farm bankruptcies are on the rise.
When farming falters, communities everywhere feel the effect. Higher production costs and fewer domestic farms mean higher prices at the grocery store and more supply chain disruptions. Farm closures have broad ripple effects on rural economies, food processing, and transportation and logistics. Every family and food-related business in America loses a measure of food security when we allow foreign competitors to gain ground in these markets.
The Trump administration recently reaffirmed that food security is national security, writing that “threats to American agriculture … expose us to risks of shortages, foreign dependencies and higher prices” in the USDA’s recently released National Farm Security Action Plan.
This is a slow-moving crisis, but it’s not one we’re powerless to solve. The America First Policy Institute’s Farmers First Agenda calls for making significant improvements to the farm safety net. Conservatives agree. A modernized safety net will match today’s challenges, ensure farmers can better weather market swings, and push back against cheaters. With the right policies, we can stabilize markets and help keep family farms in business.
Through the One Big Beautiful Bill, Republicans have begun to advance real “America First” policies that strengthen the farm safety net, reinforce domestic production, and support rural jobs for core staples such as sugar, the vast majority of which comes from family farmers growing sugarcane and sugarbeets coast to coast. U.S. sugar policy helps keep prices stable, supply steady and value flowing. Other key commodities, such as cotton and rice, also deserve a level playing field to ensure America remains a world leader in food and fiber production.
This legislation came about through hard work and a steadfast belief in the American farmer. The One Big Beautiful Bill lays a strong foundation for the Senate to reauthorize a complete five-year Farm Bill.
Farmers ask for fairness — fewer bureaucratic obstacles, a level playing field and policies that reflect the real-world challenges they face.
Trump has made a strong commitment to rural America. He stands firmly with our farmers, claiming to be “the strongest farmer guy that there’s ever been.” With the steady leadership of the Agriculture secretary and the unwavering support of Republicans in Congress, we are fulfilling this promise. It’s time to keep this momentum going and serve the heartland. From farmers and ranchers to growers, fishers, foresters and agribusinesses, these individuals are essential to the president’s vision of a new Golden Age in America.
Leif Larson is a media consultant and media strategist for multiple political candidates and issue campaigns across the country.
Reprinted with Permission from DC Journal – By Leif Larson
The opinions expressed by columnists are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of AMAC or AMAC Action.
Great article, but where is the scientific evidence that the weather is “increasingly unpredictable.” The predictability of the weather has not changed.
There is no evidence that the weather has gotten less predictable. Other than that, I think the article is right on. We need a healthy farm economy. It is a national security priority.
Never forget “NO FARM’S NO FOOD!
Is this family farms or corporate? Both?
I would like to see country of origin on the label of all food products.
Farmers and ranchers are under attack, not only by imported crap and inflated prices. Cattle ranches are being destroyed, quite literally, by wolves imported to their areas by Ecowackos, NGOs, and liberals intent on destroying the food supply for America. The farmers, particularly in the west and California are literally seeing their farms and livelihoods dry up because of the policies of the same creatures who would prefer to let freshwater run to the ocean, than irrigate crops. These tactics are nothing short of Ecoterrorism and they must be stopped.
America’s farms are being bought up by corporate America. Stop blaming weather. Blame creepy Bill Gates!!
Need to automate farm operations
Use for income IE Farm 2 Table, B&B Inn
Mass produce crops
Secure sites
Give farmers voice for Food Security
What about the rest of the world, what that depends on, not Chinese or African farmer. Or Russian.
Too many kids today leave the family farm even though they love farming. They can’t make a decent living with all the high costs equipment, fertilizer, seed etc. I see this in my own family. Who will run the farm? It will it be sold to developers.
I remember when the USA provided the majority of food for the world (yes I am old) but along with all other industries, everything has been “sent overseas”. We need to reestablish our traditional workforce and start taking care of our own country again. Computers are not good at building stuff, or growing food or cutting hair or driving big trucks, etc. America needs to start supporting “American grown and/or made” again.
We don’t do enough for farmers. It’s a tough life that doesn’t pay real well. These folks are out in the fields from dusk to dawn. If we are to be independent on our own food supply, we need to make it worthwhile for the farmers to do their job and supply our country.
Yesterday I went to the local farmers market cause I do believe in supporting locals. I paid $2.50 for a head of cabbage and $2.50 for four ears of corn! That’s insane! I could buy the same at the grocery store for 1/2 or 1/3 the price. I don’t get it.
Far m out!
Trump says that he loves and supports the American farmers. But during his last term, he had to subsidize the farmers due to the damage of his tariffs. Why does he think that his tariffs will not hurt farmers with this increased trade war? And the clash with Canada will cost farmers big increase in fertilizer & tariffs on Copper&aluminum&steel will only drive up cost of the farm equipment. And then, what happened to promise to drop the price of diesel & gasoline by half in his first year and that has not happened. Ask the FARMER what he thinks of Tariff war & see what he tells you.
US farmers have been under siege for years. It is about time they receive support to help maintain agricultural growth to maintain their farms. It is frightening that foreign countries, especially China, have been allowed to buy millions of acres of our farmland. Thank you Mr. President for taking action to assist these necessary and hard workers.
We need the support the family farmers, not the big companies. We also need to take back ALL land that China has purchased. Call it payback for COVID expenses! It is a proven fact that food grown by the big companies have less nutrients that those that are home grown. If you have to add good things chemically, then you have failed at growing it.
Yoiu bet!
and plow under the chinese owned farmland and re-expatriate it it.
Mr Larson, please explain to American farmers, who are literally burning their crops in the field because they have lost their by far largest foreign market in China because Donald Trump decided to weaponize tariffs. Thank you big beautiful Donald.
But at least China did us one favor. They are for now anyway refusing to provide us with the rare earth material and specialized magnets we are using to promulgate wars across the globe as we have been since as long ago as my 70 year old backside can remember.
It will also be hard to continue providing the demon named Netanyahu with artillery enabling that creature to shell “offensive” structures like hospitals and aid stations. I guess that spawn of Satan will just have to continue starving the Palestinians to death instead.
Man do we have some awesome allies or what?