New Report: The State of the American Farmer in 2026
Modern Ag Alliance outlines key economic and regulatory challenges in its State of the American Farmer report.
American agriculture is facing one of its most challenging periods in a generation. Rising input costs, falling commodity prices, and growing regulatory uncertainty are converging at the same time—putting unprecedented pressure on farm operations and rural communities across the country.
Modern Ag Alliance’s recently released 2026 State of the American Farmer report brings together economic data, farmer surveys, and firsthand perspectives to take stock of these challenges and where agriculture stands today.
A Farm Under Economic and Regulatory Strain
The report documents the severity of the current farm economy. Only about half of farmers expected to be profitable in the past year, while farmer bankruptcies have risen sharply—up roughly 60 percent year over year. At the same time, commodity prices for key crops have declined as much as 58 percent since 2022, even as more than half of farmers report rising costs for labor, inputs, and other essentials.
And yet, these economic headwinds are only part of the full story. The report highlights how regulatory inconsistency—particularly when state-level policies diverge from established federal, science-based standards—are exacerbating an already difficult environment for farmers.
The report also makes clear that farmers want—and need—to be part of these conversations. Eight in ten agree they should be consulted on regulatory decisions that directly affect their operations: a signal that durable policy solutions depend on engagement with those working the land every day.
The Need for a Farm Bill and State Legislative Action
The 2026 State of the American Farmer report demonstrates that farmers need certainty. That certainty is shaped in large part by the Farm Bill, which establishes the federal policy framework farmers rely on to manage risk, plan investments, and operate in an increasingly volatile economic environment. After years without a fully reauthorized Farm Bill, farmers are increasingly operating without the stable, long-term framework the legislation is intended to provide. At a time when margins are tight and production costs are rising, the ability to make long-term decisions depends on clear, predictable rules and policies that farmers can trust will endure beyond a single growing season. Recognizing the urgency of these challenges, the Modern Ag Alliance is actively supporting efforts to pass a Farm Bill in 2026 that delivers the clarity and consistency farmers need.
While the Farm Bill provides the national framework, state-level engagement remains critical to ensuring that federal regulatory authority is respected and farmers experience that certainty on the ground. In statehouses nationwide, the Modern Ag Alliance is engaging with policymakers, agricultural leaders, and farm organizations to reinforce the importance of consistency, clarity, and science-based decision-making. The goal is not to create new regulatory burdens, but to ensure existing federal standards are applied as intended, without conflicting or duplicative requirements that create uncertainty for farmers.
The work on the national and state level is informed directly by farmers’ experiences. Through on-the-ground engagement, the Modern Ag Alliance helps elevate those perspectives so policymakers understand how regulatory uncertainty translates into real-world consequences on the farm.
By working alongside a broad coalition of growers, commodity groups, and agricultural stakeholders, the Modern Ag Alliance is focused on fostering durable policy environments in the states—ones that provide farmers with the certainty they need to plan, invest, and continue producing the food, fuel, and fiber Americans rely on.