NASHVILLE, Tenn. (RFD-TV) — Rural and agriculture-adjacent small businesses saw a slight boost in confidence in November as the NFIB Small Business Optimism Index edged up to 99.0. Still, labor shortages and rising costs continue to pressure farm-country employers. The largest driver of the gain was stronger expectations for real sales, even as owners reported more uncertainty about future capital spending.
Labor quality remained the most pressing challenge across rural Main Street. One-third of small firms still cannot fill open positions, and 89 percent of those hiring report that qualified applicants are scarce — a persistent constraint for ag retailers, equipment shops, grain handlers, and service providers that rely heavily on skilled labor. Inflation pressures also resurfaced: 34 percent of owners raised selling prices, the sharpest monthly jump in more than two decades.
Supply chain disruptions intensified for 64 percent of firms, while capital outlays weakened, suggesting producers and rural businesses remain cautious heading into 2026.
“A government shutdown impacts all Americans and has serious consequences, including for farmers. It just adds additional uncertainty, disrupts critical services.”
October 06, 2025 11:23 AM
·
Agricultural exports continue to be a key contributor to rural employment. However, rural businesses still struggle to fill numerous job openings.
October 06, 2025 10:46 AM
·
Consumer demand for regional food systems is strong, but the challenge lies in scaling production and infrastructure to meet that growing need.
October 03, 2025 02:57 PM
·
Dave Kestel, a farmer from Will County and member of the Illinois Farm Bureau, joins us to share a boots-on-the-ground update on the 2025 corn harvest.
October 03, 2025 02:30 PM
·
Approximately 42,000 birds were affected in the outbreak, officials said.
October 03, 2025 10:50 AM
·
Beef demand could be influencing other economic sectors, as consumers adjust spending habits to prioritize higher-priced beef products.
October 02, 2025 01:39 PM
·
AFBF Economist Bearnt Nelson joins us with insights into current turkey flock sizes, HPAI concerns, and production impacts on holiday demand.
October 02, 2025 01:25 PM
·
“It, all of a sudden, says that tracking and fighting hunger is not a priority, apparently, at the federal level.”
October 02, 2025 01:22 PM
·
In a final rule published in the Federal Register, the Department states that it will no longer base wage rates on the Farm Labor Survey.
October 02, 2025 11:20 AM
·
