Farm Policy, Food Supply & Rural Coverage
201 articles · page 4 of 7
USDA Tightens Rules on Foreign Farmland Ownership
New disclosure regulations would lower thresholds and close loopholes in decades-old law tracking who controls American agricultural land.
EPA Expands Carcinogenic Forever-Chemical Pesticide to Food Crops
The agency approved expanded use of bifenthrin, a PFAS pesticide the EPA classifies as a possible carcinogen, on kale, broccoli, coffee, and other foods—even as contamination spreads through U.S. waterways and farmland.
Farm Bankruptcies Hit 6-Year High as Debt Crisis Spreads
Chapter 12 farm bankruptcies jumped 46% in 2025 and surge further in 2026, with April filings marking the highest monthly total since 2020 as debt and input costs crush family farmers.
Congress Takes Aim at Corporate Farmland Grabs
Farmland for Farmers Act seeks to ban corporate land ownership while 25 states lock out foreign investors—the latest salvo against agricultural consolidation.
FTC Forces Deere to Unlock 10-Year Right to Repair Win
Federal Trade Commission settles antitrust suit with John Deere, guaranteeing farmers access to repair codes, parts, and independent technicians through 2036.
Winter Wheat Crop Collapses to 60-Year Low Amid Plains Drought
USDA forecasts winter wheat production down 25% to smallest crop since 1965 as severe drought devastates prime growing regions across the Great Plains.
States Lead Heat Protection for Farmworkers While Federal Rule Stalls
Eight states now have occupational heat standards. Federal regulators have proposed protections, but the rule's future remains unclear as farmworkers face deadly summer conditions.
The Neighbors Beating Corporate Meat One County Vote at a Time
No federal law stops a mega-dairy or a 13-million-bird poultry operation from moving in next door. So rural communities from Oregon to Indiana are doing it themselves — county by county, permit hearing by permit hearing.
The Deere Settlement Isn't the Finish Line — It's a 10-Year Clock
The FTC's landmark right-to-repair settlement with John Deere sounds like a win. But it expires in a decade, covers one manufacturer, and doesn't touch state law — which is why Minnesota farmers are already fighting the next battle.
House Judiciary Committee Blocks H-2A Expansion Push
Just three days after Thompson's bipartisan bill on farm labor, chair Jim Jordan bars the immigration committee from taking it up—killing momentum on farmworker visa reform.
Seed Patents Lock Out Farmers From Breeding Innovation
DOJ reveals that patented seeds and genetic monopolies restrict farmer breeding rights and block competition, paralleling the John Deere fight for equipment access.
EPA Quietly Approves PFAS Pesticides as 'Forever Chemicals' Spread
The EPA has greenlit three new PFAS pesticides despite health risks, bringing the total to five approved during this administration. Your food is already contaminated.
Cattle Futures Collapse as Ranchers Face Perfect Debt Storm
August cattle futures plunged to lowest levels since March as rancher debt loads hit record highs, squeezing margins and threatening operations across the Great Plains.
New H-2A Wage Rules Cost Farmworkers $3B Annually
DOL's new wage-setting methodology, live since July 1, slashes farmworker pay by up to $5 per hour and triggers a legal battle over wage theft.
USDA Invests $500M to Defang Fertilizer Monopoly
Secretary Rollins launches the FIELDS program to expand domestic fertilizer production and break the grip of soaring input costs on struggling farmers.
Record Heat Threatens Northern Plains Spring Wheat and Barley
As temperatures shatter records across the Northern Plains, wheat and barley crops at a critical growth stage face severe yield damage. USDA warns of compounding climate and financial crisis for growers.
Record Farm Debt and Interest Costs Driving Bankruptcy Surge
April 2026 brought the highest Chapter 12 filings since 2020, as total farm debt soars to $624.7 billion and interest expenses hit record $33 billion—crushing family farms.
John Deere loses right-to-repair fight
FTC forces Deere to hand over diagnostic tools and repair manuals for 10 years. A major win for farmers fighting equipment monopolies.
EPA Replaces PFAS Risk Science With 'Voluntary' Guidance
The agency's new biosolids guidance ditches a science-based risk assessment for non-binding recommendations. Farmers already on contaminated land are left vulnerable.
The Fertilizer Squeeze: How a Handful of Giants Control Farm Costs
An FTC antitrust probe into nitrogen, phosphate, and potash giants reveals how industry consolidation is pricing family farms out of production.
44 Million Acres: America's Quiet Consolidation Crisis
Nearly 15% of U.S. cropland will change hands by 2029. Farm Journal Intelligence data shows 58% of small farms face acquisition risk, threatening the viability of family agriculture.
Next Generation Farmers Are Betting on Regeneration
Young farmers are choosing regenerative agriculture as both a survival strategy and a direct resistance to corporate consolidation, with USDA backing $700 million in pilot programs.
FTC Wins Right-to-Repair Deal: Farmers Can Fix Their Own Deeres
After an 18-month antitrust fight, the FTC secured a landmark settlement requiring John Deere to open repair access to farmers and independent shops for a decade.
USDA Backs Independent Beef Processors With $500M Crisis Program
The agriculture department launches SPUR, a half-billion-dollar effort to rescue small meat processors from the grip of industry consolidation.
H-2A Expansion Threatens Farmworker Pay and Protections
Thompson's labor bill would dramatically expand foreign worker visas for year-round farm work, drawing praise from growers and alarm from farmworker advocates over wages and abuse risks.
EPA Approves PFAS Pesticides Despite Contamination Risks
In June, the EPA approved three new PFAS herbicides despite growing fears of 'forever chemical' contamination on farmland. Advocates warn of compounding risks to soil, water, and crops.
April Farm Bankruptcies Spike 130% as Sector Debt Hits Record
Sixty-two Chapter 12 farm bankruptcies filed in April 2026—a 130% jump from last year, highest since 2020. The Midwest saw a 70% surge as debt spirals into new crisis territory.
Federal Court Halts USDA's Young Farmers Purge
A federal judge ordered the Trump administration to restore half of $300M in land-access grants cancelled in March, handing a partial victory to beginning farmers.
USDA Moves to Choke Off Foreign Farmland Grabs
USDA proposes sweeping new enforcement rules targeting foreign control of U.S. farmland, expanding oversight and creating steep penalties for foreign adversary entities.
Forage Farmers Get Revenue Protection — But Only in 12 States
USDA expands crop insurance to cover revenue loss for hay and pasture growers in select states. A step toward financial stability for a sector left behind.