Letter
Dear Leader Thune, Leader Schumer, Speaker Johnson and Leader Jeffries:
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.
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.1 At the same time, a widening U.S. agricultural trade deficit and falling American shares of global sales reflect growing competitive pressures in global markets. These difficulties were further aggravated by failure to enforce trade commitments made by China as well as persistent non-tariff barriers around the world – which have fueled volatility and left farmers uncertain about future revenue prospects and market access.
These trends aren’t just statistics; they represent an economic crisis in rural America.
The significant investments included in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act were welcome news across farm country, but farmers need a lifeline to keep their farms in business until that support reaches them in late 2026. We are thankful for USDA’s recent Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA) program and the promise of some funding for specialty crop and sugar producers. These funds could provide a meaningful first step but do not cover the extensive and cumulative losses that farmers have absorbed over the last several years. Even after including crop insurance, farm bill programs, support from the FBA program, the 2024 Emergency Commodity Assistance Program and the Marketing Assistance for Specialty Crops Program, losses for principal crops and specialty crops remain deep. This is why Congress needs to act.
In addition to continuing to pursue federal policies to increase long-term domestic demand for U.S agricultural commodities, we urge Congress to provide immediate economic support to fill in the gap of remaining losses for both field and specialty crop farmers. Additional support will stabilize the farm economy, protect rural communities and ensure a secure food supply. This support must be robust enough to fill in sector-wide gaps.
We appreciate your longstanding support for rural America and respectfully ask that you provide the relief urgently needed to sustain our nation’s farmers and ranchers.
Sincerely,
American Cotton Producers
American Farm Bureau Federation
American Mushroom Institute
American Pistachio Growers
American Soybean Association
American Sugar Alliance
American Sugar Cane League
American Sugarbeet Growers Association
AmericanHort
California Avocado Commission
California Citrus Mutual
California Fresh Fruit Association
California Table Grape Commission
California Walnut Commission
Florida Citrus Mutual
Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association
Florida Sugar Cane League
Florida Tomato Exchange
Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association
International Fresh Produce Association
National Association of Landscape Professionals
National Association of State Departments of Agriculture
National Association of Wheat Growers
National Barley Growers Association
National Christmas Tree Association
National Citrus Nursery Association
National Cotton Council
National Council of Farmer Cooperatives
National Farmers Union
National Pecan Federation
National Potato Council
National Sorghum Producers
National Sunflower Association
National Watermelon Association
North American Blueberry Council
Northwest Horticultural Council
Organic Trade Association
Society of American Florists
Southwest Council of Agribusiness
Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance
Texas Citrus Mutual
Turfgrass Producers International
U.S. Apple Association
U.S. Beet Sugar Association
U.S. Canola Association
U.S. Peanut Federation
U.S. Rice Producers Association
USA Pulses
USA Rice
Washington Red Raspberry Commission
Washington Winegrowers Association
Western Growers
Western Peanut Growers Association
Wild Blueberry Commission of Maine
Wine Institute
WineAmerica
1 The total estimated losses are calculated based on the definition of losses provided in the FBA program for years 2023/24, 2024/25 and 2025/26.
