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| Best of NAMA 2026 |
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AMERICAN FARM BUREAU SURVEY: FINANCIAL STRAIN ACROSS U.S. AGRICULTURE
Apr. 15, 2026
BrownfieldAgNews reports:
A recent survey from the American Farm Bureau Federation indicates the majority of U.S. farmers are experiencing stagnant or declining financial conditions.
AFBF president Zippy Duvall says more than 5,700 producers participated and the results provide an eye-opening look at the realities farmers are facing today.
"The results speak to the broader picture of a farm economy facing generational headwinds. Most farmers don't get to set the price for the things that they grow, yet still having costs continue to rise on us. Whether it be fertilizer, fuel, and even equipment costs."
According to the survey, 94 percent of respondents reported their financial situation has worsened or remained the same since last year.
Duvall says depending on region, fewer than 20 percent prebooked fertilizer purchases in advance of planting season.
"This makes farmers put a lot of focus on whether or not they're going to reduce the amount of planted acres, or they're going to reduce the amount of fertilizer they're going to apply."
The survey shows just 19 percent of farmers in the South prebooked fertilizer purchases ahead of planting, while nearly a third of Midwestern farmers say they are entering the season without securing all their fertilizer needs for 2026.
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