WASHINGTON, D.C. – Fifty-six national farm groups have sent a letter to Congress, stating that America’s farmers, ranchers and growers are facing extreme 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 Jan. 15 letter read. The farm groups are urging Congress to provide immediate economic support to “fill in the gap of remaining losses for both field and specialty crop farmers.”

For the last three to four years, the letter added, 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 $100 billion nationwide: “These trends aren’t just statistics; they represent an economic crisis in rural America.”

Brian Glenn, American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) director of government affairs, told Farm World, concerning how the groups came together to pen the letter, “We have heard from farmers across the country who are under extreme economic pressure due to record-high production expenses and depressed commodity prices.

“Many farmers are trying to hold on and make it to the next growing season,” he said. “This is why AFBF, along with 55 other agricultural groups representing a wide breadth of commodities, called on Congress to fill in the remaining gap of losses that farmers are experiencing. We are grateful to the USDA for the $12 billion aid package, but we recognize this does not cover the full extent of cumulative losses felt across the farm economy.”

According to AFBF, “Farm losses are the result of a multitude of challenges over several years of downturns that have led to these devastating farm losses.” Organized by AFBF, the letter, however, acknowledged the significant investments over the past year in farm programs, a bridge assistance program, and other aid to support farmers.

Currently, the USDA’s Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA), announced in December 2025, provides $11 billion in one-time, per-acre payments to eligible 2025 row crop producers, with funds expected by Feb. 28. This initiative offers immediate relief for 2025 financial losses due to low prices and high input costs, officials said. 

On Jan. 16, U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee Chair John Boozman (R-Ark.) and U.S. Agriculture Appropriations Committee Chair John Hoeven (R-N.D.) issued a proposal they said would provide targeted relief to farmers by building upon the FBA program by expanding its coverage, and providing additional assistance for losses that exceed national averages.

“America’s farmers are resilient, hard-working and deeply committed to feeding and clothing our nation,” Boozman said. “Unfortunately, resilience and hard work are not enough to withstand the significant challenges that have been mounting for several years.

“The message is clear that while they are extremely grateful for the investments Congress, President Trump and (USDA) Secretary Brooke Rollins recently delivered, they need more help to keep farming,” he added. “We need to maintain a safe, affordable and reliable food supply, and the only way to achieve that is to support the men and women who make that possible.”

Hoeven said this assistance will also provide better account for basis and cost of production concerns: “We also increase farm ownership and operating loan limits so producers can access capital to help with higher costs. Our goal is to ensure that farmers and ranchers can make it through this challenging period, and continue their operations now and into the future.”

Glenn said, “There is a recognition from our Agriculture Committee leaders that farmers need a lifeline, and we urge immediate action to build upon the USDA’s Farmer Bridge Assistance Program and support our farmers.”