Farm bankruptcies are soaring year-over-year. An ag attorney says that the new data includes some alarming numbers.
Joe Peiffer says, “The Administrative Office of the United States Courts points out, in the first six months of 2025, 181 Chapter 12 bankruptcies were filed nationwide. That is up 57% from what it was in 2024. That’s more filings than we had in either 2022 or 2023.”
He says that losing the China ag market is a contributing factor, and it will be hard to correct.
“Now China’s buying from Argentina. It’s been buying soybeans from Brazil. Once you lose a market like that, the chances of getting it back are really slim, because we’re no longer viewed as a reliable supplier because of the trade things that are going on.”
Peiffer says that it is not only the financial loss, but the emotional strain on farmers that is taking a toll.
He says that it is “fish or cut the bait” time for a lot of farmers and recommends they talk to an experienced bankruptcy attorney and tax advisor.
A disciplined, breakeven-based marketing plan helps protect margins and reduce risk, even when markets remain unpredictable.
January 15, 2026 10:58 AM
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Roger McEowen with the Washburn University School of Law joined us to provide legal analysis on key cases shaping the agricultural landscape heading into the year ahead.
January 14, 2026 01:49 PM
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RFD News correspondent Frank McCaffrey reports from Texas on the ongoing water dispute and its implications for U.S. farmers.
January 14, 2026 12:17 PM
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RealAg Radio host Shaun Haney discusses the latest developments in the Supreme Court, trade tariffs, and the future of the USMCA under President Donald Trump.
January 14, 2026 11:54 AM
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Freight volatility increasingly determines export margins, making logistics costs as important as price in marketing decisions.
January 14, 2026 06:00 AM
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Secretary Rollins also met with specialty crop producers at a local strawberry farm to discuss workforce needs and the Trump Administration’s recent wins related to significantly cutting the cost of H-2A labor for California farmers.
January 13, 2026 03:25 PM
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