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| Best of NAMA 2026 |
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FARM BUREAU: E15, FARM BILL AND ECONOMIC AID WITHIN REACH
Jun. 4, 2026
By Dr. John Newton, VP/Public Policy and Economic Analysis, American Farm Bureau Federation
Key Takeaways
Farm country has endured three consecutive years of worsening economic conditions, spreading financial stress across much of rural America.
A prolonged cost-price squeeze has increased demand for credit, reduced equipment purchases and contributed to a slight uptick in farm bankruptcies.
Farmland values continue to provide equity support for farmers, helping to keep aggregate debt-to-asset ratios low and support access to capital.
Policy solutions such as year-round E15, the farm bill and economic aid are within reach in the Senate, offering opportunities to improve farm income, expand market access and support rural economies.
The U.S. farm economy is currently in the 12th consecutive quarter of a farm economic downturn, and given the cumulative effect of inflation, new economic pressures on input costs such as fertilizers and fuel, and crop prices below breakeven, how long the current downturn lasts will depend a lot on congressional action in the coming weeks and months.
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