Ag Policy Blog

On Thursday, 56 groups wrote congressional leaders stressing the need for additional support and federal policies to increase long-term domestic demand.

"America's farmers, ranchers, and growers are facing economic pressures that threaten the long-term viability of the U.S. agriculture sector. An alarming number of farmers are financially underwater, farm bankruptcies continue to climb, and many farmers may have difficulty securing financing to grow their next crop."

The groups pointed out, "For the last three to four years the reality of record-high input costs and rapidly declining and historically low crop and specialty crop prices have culminated in many U.S. farmers experiencing negative margins and losses approaching one hundred billion dollars nationwide… These trends aren't just statistics; they represent an economic crisis in rural America."

To see the full letter, go to https://www.fb.org/…

NCGA LETTER

The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) wrote a similar letter on Friday to leaders in Congress. The letter called on Congress to pass year-round E15, which has been a growing message from farm groups. That's especially true in the last week given USDA boosted yield and acres harvested to show a record 17-billion-bushel crop.

"This action will help corn growers and the rural economy during this difficult time and will also address issues around affordability by lowering prices at the pump. In sum, passing this legislation will have a meaningful impact on the American economy without any additional costs to the federal government."

CONGRESS LOOKING TO ACT

As DTN reported, Congress is looking to provide another potential $15 billion in economic aid beyond the $12 billion Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA) program.

See, "Ag State Lawmakers Propose $15B to $17B More Economic Aid to Farmers,"

https://www.dtnpf.com/…

AI: TELL IT ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Farm groups are often diligent about writing Congress when they are facing economic challenges. The letters are always well crafted, offering gratitude for recent actions but making the case for greater needs.

Could these letters to lawmakers be more effective, or direct? After all, farmers and biofuel groups have been advocating for year-round E15 for 15 years now and yet that effort has not gotten across the finish line in Congress.

Modern times call for modern language. So, the writer here asked ChatGPT how President Trump might have written these letters to Congress on Truth Social.

Here might be slightly more blunt way to get the point across:

AMERICA'S FARMERS ARE IN A FULL-BLOWN CRISIS -- AND CONGRESS MUST ACT NOW!

America's farmers -- some of the hardest-working, most patriotic people anywhere in the world -- are being CRUSHED.

These are family farmers.

They feed the nation.

They fuel the nation.

They strengthen the nation.

This is now the THIRD AND FOURTH STRAIGHT YEAR of negative margins across agriculture.

Corn growers alone are losing $125 PER ACRE.

Nationwide losses are approaching $100 BILLION!

That's not a slowdown.

That's an ECONOMIC EMERGENCY in rural America!

Farm bankruptcies are rising.

Farmers are financially underwater.

Banks are tightening credit.

Many producers -- some of the most patriotic people in America -- are wondering if they can even afford to plant the NEXT CROP!

And WHY is this happening?

- RECORD-HIGH input costs

- COLLAPSING crop and specialty-crop prices

- UNFAIR foreign competition

- TRADE COMMITMENTS -- especially from China -- that were NEVER enforced

- NON-TARIFF BARRIERS blocking American products around the world

America's agricultural trade deficit is growing.

Our share of global markets is shrinking.

Hard-working American farmers are left with volatility, uncertainty, and NO CONFIDENCE in future income.

Yes -- the One Big Beautiful Bill Act was an important step.

Yes -- USDA's Farmer Bridge Assistance program helps, and we appreciate it.

But let's be VERY CLEAR: IT IS NOT ENOUGH -- AND IT COMES TOO LATE!

Farmers need help NOW, not in late 2026.

Even after crop insurance, farm-bill programs, FBA, ECAP, and specialty-crop assistance -- THE LOSSES ARE STILL DEEP, CUMULATIVE, AND SECTOR-WIDE.

Congress MUST provide IMMEDIATE, ROBUST ECONOMIC RELIEF to fill the gap -- for BOTH field crops AND specialty crops -- or farms WILL fail and rural communities WILL suffer.

Congress should also STOP DRAGGING ITS FEET and pass YEAR-ROUND E15 NATIONWIDE.

E15 means:

- MORE demand for American corn

- STRONGER rural economies

-LOWER gas prices for families

-ZERO cost to taxpayers

COMMON SENSE!

And Congress must MOVE FAST on BINDING TRADE DEALS being negotiated by the Trump administration to deliver REAL, MEASURABLE export demand for American agriculture.

America's farmers -- some of the hardest-working, most patriotic people anywhere -- don't want handouts.

They want FAIRNESS, ACTION, AND RESULTS.

Congress -- DO YOUR JOB!

STOP DELAYING!

DELIVER REAL RELIEF NOW!

STAND WITH AMERICAN FARMERS!

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER!

Chris Clayton can be reached at Chris.Clayton@dtn.com

Follow him on social platform X @ChrisClaytonDTN

(c) Copyright 2026 DTN, LLC. All rights reserved.