WASHINGTON, D.C. (RFD-TV) — Farmers are receiving only pennies of each dollar consumers spend on traditional Thanksgiving foods, according to the National Farmers Union (NFU_ annual report, “Farmer’s Share of the Food Dollar.” Despite elevated grocery prices, the share going back to the people who grow and raise the food remains strikingly low. NFU says decades of consolidation in food processing, transportation, retail, and input markets have left family farmers with little leverage, while consumers continue facing high prices with few competitive alternatives.
The 2025 figures reveal wide disparities between retail prices and the prices farmers ultimately receive. Turkey producers receive just six cents per pound on a $2.49 retail price — barely 2.4% of the consumer dollar. Producers earn 1.3% of the value of boxed stuffing, 2% of dinner rolls, and just 10% of pumpkin puree.
Even where farmers capture a larger share — such as cranberries at nearly 32% or green beans at 25% — the absolute returns remain small. NFU argues these gaps illustrate how corporate control throughout the supply chain erodes both farmer profitability and consumer affordability.
The organization’s Fairness for Farmers campaign continues calling for stronger antitrust enforcement, greater transparency, and more competitive markets. NFU President Rob Larew says fixing the structural imbalance benefits everyone: fair prices for farmers and lower prices for families at the grocery store.
Farm-Level Takeaway: Low farmer shares reflect deep consolidation across the food chain, keeping producer returns thin even as retail food prices remain high.
Tony St. James, RFD-TV Markets Specialist
Late harvest and tight supplies shape crop progress and agribusiness this week. Here is a regional snapshot of harvest pace, crop conditions, logistics, and livestock economics across U.S. agriculture for the week of Dec. 1, 2025.
December 01, 2025 04:22 PM
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Cargill’s commitment to keep plants open helps preserve competition as Tyson removes capacity amid historically tight cattle supplies.
December 01, 2025 03:55 PM
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Tryston Beyrer, Crop Nutrition Lead at The Mosaic Company, examines planning trends as producers weigh corn and soybean plantings for 2026.
December 01, 2025 03:27 PM
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Brooks York with AgriSompo joins us to offer an update on what agents are prioritizing as the calendar year winds down.
December 01, 2025 03:06 PM
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The newly elected Executive Vice President of the Tennessee Cattlemen’s Association (TCA), Dale Parker, joins us on-set to share his vision for his state’s cattle industry.
December 01, 2025 02:47 PM
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Despite the need for swift action, many ag lawmakers and industry groups argue that farm aid alone will likely not be sufficient to help farmers without improved trade relations with China.
December 01, 2025 12:21 PM
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Fair market value shapes taxes, transitions, lending, and sales, making accurate valuation essential for long-term planning.
December 01, 2025 11:21 AM
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SDRP Stage 2 now helps producers recover shallow, uninsured losses from major 2023–2024 disasters, with streamlined sign-ups open through April 30.
December 01, 2025 11:16 AM
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Tyson’s capacity cuts weaken local basis, tighten kill space, and heighten dependence on imports, signaling more volatility for producers.
December 01, 2025 11:09 AM
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