24.01.2026, Washington.
US farmers engaged in crop production in the United States are today receiving virtually no income from their activities: the country is experiencing an ongoing agricultural crisis, and high costs are placing a heavy burden on farmers, according to Rossa Primavera News Agency Agricultural Desk.
US farmers are facing serious challenges and say that these are the hardest times in a long time. They are struggling with low prices and high costs, which farmers themselves, such as Scott Metzger, President of the American Soybean Association, call astronomically high.
The initial forecast for farmer net profit showed a decline of more than 20% in 2026 compared to 2025. Many farmers are currently facing the difficult decision of whether to continue their business.
Banks are denying loans to many producers at the time when they desperately need cash, making it impossible for farmers to acquire resources and seeds for spring planting. As a result, the crisis in the industry is further exacerbating.
Thousands of workers are losing their jobs due to the closure of meat processing plants and the reduction in agricultural machinery production. The burden on US agriculture is rapidly mounting.
Even the profits of largest agricultural companies are shrinking. Meanwhile, extremely high grain stocks are putting significant long-term pressure on markets and prices. Grain prices are falling, and revenues from grain sales are declining.
Last year, US farmers harvested huge corn and soybean crops, leading to a global grain surplus. Soybean farmers also lost billions of dollars in income due to the sharp decline in exports to China amid Donald Trump’s trade wars.
For three years in a row, grain prices in the United States have remained low, and production costs (especially fertilizer) have remained high. This situation will not change in the near future: final harvest data for the past agricultural season, released by the US Department of Agriculture at the beginning of the new year, showed higher-than-expected production, and corn stocks reached record levels. This means that grain prices will again be low.
In an attempt to alleviate the negative situation in agriculture, the United States government allocated a $12 billion aid package for farmers. However, given the scale of the crisis, these funds are absolutely inadequate to compensate for the damage caused by low prices and lost export opportunities. This is noted by many producers and agricultural economists.
According to experts, the situation is becoming increasingly critical, and production costs are expected to remain high into 2026. Short-term and limited assistance will not suffice.
Source: Rossa Primavera News Agency
