AFBF Economist: Farmer Losses Mounting Despite Federal Assistance

AFBF Economist Faith Parum discusses the financial challenges currently facing farmers and the Farm Bureau’s 2026 outlook for the farm economy.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (RFD NEWS) — Despite recent federal assistance, many farmers continue to face financial pressure. Rising operating expenses are pushing break-even prices higher, while commodity prices remain too low for many producers to fully offset those costs.

Faith Parum, an economist with the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF), joined us on Thursday’s Market Day Report to break down what recent data show about farm income and losses over the past several years, including the role of federal assistance payments.

In her interview with RFD NEWS, Parum discussed the factors influencing farm profitability today, from production costs to current market conditions, and outlined policy options available to Congress to support the farm economy. The conversation also touched on discussions from the American Farm Bureau Federation’s annual convention last week and the overall sentiment among producers in attendance.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

Dr. Jeffrey Gold provides insights on supporting aging populations in rural communities on this week’s Rural Health Matters segment.
OHFB President Bill Patterson shares an update from Washington on the group’s policy priorities and the issues shaping agriculture ahead of the 2026 planting season.
Ben Kurtzman with American Farmland Trust discusses the growing pressure on farmland and ranchland and the steps being taken to help conserve farms and ranches across the country ,as unrest in the Middle East adds more obstacles for producers.
NRECA CEO Jim Matheson warns that rising electricity demand from AI and data centers could strain the grid and affect rural electric cooperatives if U.S. power infrastructure cannot keep up.
Tidal Grow’s AlignN delivers encapsulated nitrogen to leaves, boosting in-season response, yield gains, and farm profits.
Katie Keener with the National Women in Agriculture Association joins us to celebrate women in agriculture and spotlight programs and initiatives aimed at empowering female producers across the country.