NFU, MFU Urge White House and Congress to Quickly Deliver Relief for Family Farmers and Ranchers

National Farmers Union this week sent letters to President Trump and Congressional leaders urging immediate action to provide economic relief for family farmers and ranchers facing worsening financial conditions. NFU emphasized that aid should reach family farm operations that need it most, and for parallel efforts to rebuild fair markets and curb corporate consolidation in agriculture to be prioritized. 

“Family farmers and ranchers face severe economic challenges and a deepening crisis if they do not receive immediate assistance. Recently enacted trade policies and the resulting actions by other countries have wreaked havoc on our markets, driving commodity prices far below the cost of production,” said NFU President Rob Larew. “Input costs are projected to reach record levels in 2025. Stress levels are high among farmers, reflected in the rising number of farm bankruptcy filings across the country.”  

Montana Farmers Union President Walter Schweitzer emphasized the need for Congress to get back to work and fund the federal government with a focus on providing aid for farmers and ranchers devastated by tariff impacts and on rebuilding markets.  

“Congress needs to pass a modernized farm bill that supports the family farm and ranch and our nation’s food security,” Schweitzer said.

In his letter, President Larew outlined three key principles to ensure aid provides meaningful and lasting relief: 

• Aid payments must be directed to family agricultural operations and balanced among regions and crops. 

• Aid must be paired with efforts to investigate monopolies in the agriculture industry and their resulting impacts on the farm economy. 

• Resources must be dedicated to developing new and enhanced domestic markets for American crops and enhancing existing markets, including local and regional markets. 

The number of farms in the U.S. has been declining for decades, with more than 140,000 farms lost between 2017 and 2022. That decline continues today as farmers face record-low commodity prices and shrinking international markets. For the first time in more than two decades, Chinese importers have not purchased American soybeans this year, cutting off U.S. producers from their largest export market and further straining rural economies. 

NFU continues to urge Congress and the administration to release meaningful aid as soon as possible to prevent a deepening farm crisis. 

Read the letter to President Trump here. 

Read the letter to Congressional leadership here.