Farmers warn lawmakers about the fragile state of the ag economy

“It really hamstrings our availability of financing to get loans when everything is costing 30-60% more.”

Farmers are on Capitol Hill this week, warning lawmakers about the state of the ag economy. Profits are tight, and one specialty crop grower warns it could significantly impact when he goes to the bank this year.

“The land cost, all of our input costs, the way they’ve escalated over the past 4-5 years has been nothing like I’ve ever seen before,” said Ryan Talley. “It really hamstrings our availability of financing to get loans when everything is costing 30-60% more. The available funds are no longer available.”

Prop-12 was also a big topic at the hearing.

Related Stories
Farm Legal Expert Roger McEowen with the Washburn School of Law joins us to share more about the North Dakota court decision and the its larger impact on agriculture.
Fertilizer markets face uncertainty after President Trump raised the possibility of tariffs on Canadian imports, with analysts warning of supply and pricing risks. Josh Linville with StoneX provides a fertilizer industry outlook.
A new study found that retaining the EPA’s half-RIN credit protects soybean demand, farm income, and crushing-sector strength while preserving biofuel market flexibility.
Rising federal debt is increasing pressure on Washington to limit spending, which could tighten future funding and delivery for agricultural programs.
Western Caucus member Rep. Bruce Westerman (R-AR) details the SPEED Act on Champions of Rural America. The legislation aims to reform NEPA, streamline permitting, and expand domestic energy development.
“I’m not sure where this bridge goes,” trader Brady Huck with Advanced Trading told RFD-TV News earlier this week.
Plan for sharp, short-term volatility after unexpected outages; permanent closures rarely trigger major price spread disruptions.
Strong Farm Credit finances help cushion producers, but prolonged low crop margins could strain renewals in 2026.
The specific provision in the CO₂ storage law allowed the North Dakota Industrial Commission (NDIC) to authorize carbon storage projects to proceed even if they lacked unanimous consent from all affected landowners.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

Wed, 1/21/26 – 7:30 PM ET | 6:30 PM CT | 5:30 PM MT | 4:30 PM PT
University of Nebraska President Dr. Jeffrey Gold joined us to share insights on building healthy habits and improving rural health in the year ahead.
Dr. Rosslyn Biggs with the Oklahoma State University Center for Rural Veterinary Medicine shares insight into biosecurity, preparedness, and animal health concerns facing livestock producers as New World screwworm outbreaks continue in Mexico.
Tennessee Rep. John Rose joined us to pay tribute to his friend and colleague, Rep. Doug LaMalfa, a true Champion of Rural America.
China continues to buy U.S. soybeans toward its 12 MMT commitment, as analysts cite data gaps, delivery timing questions, and muted market reaction.
FarmHER Nikki Boxler, aka The Maple Farmer, blends tradition with innovation, tapping into a bold new future for maple syrup.