NASHVILLE, TENN. (RFD-TV) — Producers are closing out 2025 facing deep financial losses and no approved disaster aid from Washington, even as projected income shortfalls exceed last year’s. High input costs and weak commodity prices are squeezing margins across nearly every major crop, leaving many farms relying on operating credit and off-farm income to bridge into 2026.
Analysis from Dr. Bart Fischer at Texas A&M’s Agriculture and Food Policy Center shows all major commodities tracked by USDA are projected to lose more than $100 per acre this year, with rice losses roughly doubling last year’s levels. Soybeans are the lone crop with slightly better price prospects thanks to a new trade agreement with China, yet projected returns remain firmly negative.
On the ground, growers are wrestling with cash-flow shortfalls, bigger operating loans, and pressure from rising land rents and stubborn input costs. After eight years of ad hoc disaster aid, many producers are wary of more one-off checks, but see few alternatives in the current price environment.
Regions heavily dependent on row crops are feeling the most acute strain, while specialty crops such as sugar also face substantial losses that fall outside traditional commodity support benchmarks. Meanwhile, lingering trade uncertainty continues to cloud export-driven areas.
Looking ahead, the “One Big Beautiful Bill” Act (OBBBA) will strengthen the farm safety net beginning with the 2025 crop year, but most payments won’t arrive until October 2026. Without interim assistance, Fischer warns the gap between current losses and future support could force more restructuring, asset sales, or exits from farming.
Farm-Level Takeaway: 2025 row-crop losses are outpacing last year. With no disaster aid yet approved, many operations face a tough financial bridge to 2026 even as Farm Bill improvements remain a year away.
Tony St. James, RFD-TV Markets Specialist
Brooks York with AgriSompo joins us to offer an update on what agents are prioritizing as the calendar year winds down.
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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.
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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.
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Fair market value shapes taxes, transitions, lending, and sales, making accurate valuation essential for long-term planning.
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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.
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One of the most iconic symbols of the holiday season is the Christmas tree. This year at RFD-TV! We are celebrating the tree farmers across Rural America that grow these iconic treasures. Here’s a soundtrack for you to enjoy this year as you gather to decorate yours — it’s a few of our favorite songs about Christmas trees!
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Low farmer shares reflect deep consolidation across the food chain, keeping producer returns thin even as retail food prices remain high.
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Strong yields and higher cattle prices helped stabilize conditions, but weak crop prices and rising carryover debt remain major challenges for Eleventh District farmers.
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Corn exports remain strong, while soybeans and wheat shift week to week on river conditions and global demand.
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