Rising Grocery Prices Bring Little Return to Farmers

Farmers continue to face higher production expenses despite rising prices at the grocery store.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (RFD-TV) — Americans are paying more for groceries, but farmers are receiving only a small share of what consumers spend.

According to USDA, farmers received just 5.8 cents of every dollar spent on domestically produced food in 2024. The remaining 94.2 cents went toward processing, transportation, retail and other costs.

Farm Bureau economists say farmers often face declining commodity prices while their production expenses continue to rise.

A recent survey also found consumers are more likely to blame tariffs and large corporations than farmers for higher food prices.

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Knoxville native Neal Burnette-Irwin is a graduate from MTSU where he majored in Journalism and Entertainment Studies. He works as a digital content producer with RFD-TV and is represented by multiple talent agencies in Nashville and Chicago.


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