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.
According to the National Council of Farmers Cooperatives (NCFC), President and CEO Chuck Conner says, there is only one other option besides addressing ag labor shortages.
September 18, 2025 01:10 PM
·
For rural communities, this shift could mean new housing options for farmworkers and young families priced out of metro markets.
September 18, 2025 11:37 AM
·
The modest cut should slightly reduce borrowing costs on operating loans, land notes, and equipment financing for agriculture, giving some relief to producers under heavy debt loads.
September 18, 2025 10:29 AM
·
Produce markets are in transition as fall approaches, with leafy greens and berries under pressure, while vegetables like celery, broccoli, and cauliflower are finding firmer ground.
September 17, 2025 04:07 PM
·
Grain shippers face lower freight values thanks to weak soybean exports and strong rail service, but barge traffic and forward Gulf loadings suggest continued uncertainty as harvest ramps up.
September 17, 2025 04:01 PM
·
The EPA proposal laid out two options: fully reallocate all exempted volumes to the 2026–2027 standards, or reallocate half.
September 17, 2025 12:04 PM
·
