US Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Sector NAICS 11

Mar 16, 2026 - Family Farms on the Brink

• Farmers face growing economic and generational challenges as rising costs, weak commodity prices, and trade pressures strain farm profitability and make succession harder, The Wall Street Journal reports. Farm bankruptcies rose 46% in 2025, reflecting financial stress across the sector. At the same time, the farming population is aging, with more farmers over 75 than under 35. Many farmers’ children pursue careers outside agriculture. As a result, thousands of multigenerational farms are being sold to larger entities or forced into bankruptcy, accelerating consolidation in the industry. This shift is reshaping food production, potentially reducing crop diversity and affecting rural communities that historically depended on family farms. Government aid has helped some farmers stay afloat, but financial pressures remain. Without younger generations taking over, many farmers face uncertain futures for their land and businesses, raising concerns about the long-term viability of family farming in the US.
• Federal officials plan to revise long-standing management plans governing 2.5 million acres of Bureau of Land Management forests in western Oregon to significantly increase timber production, The Oregonian reports. The proposal could raise harvest levels to those seen in the 1960s (more than 10 times current levels) and potentially open areas that have been protected from regular logging for decades. Supporters, including logging industry representatives, say increasing domestic timber production could help revive local economies and reduce wildfire risk by addressing overstocked forests. However, conservation groups and scientists warn the plan could threaten federally protected species such as the northern spotted owl and reverse protections established after heavy logging in the 1990s. The proposal follows a Trump administration executive order prioritizing expanded US timber production and could involve using the Endangered Species Act Committee to override species protections.

• In February, a bipartisan group of former USDA officials and past leaders of major farm associations warned Congress that current economic pressures and Trump administration policies could trigger a “widespread collapse” of US agriculture, New York Times reports. In their letter, they cite rising input costs, disrupted export and domestic markets, labor shortages, and cuts to agricultural research and staffing as key threats undermining farm viability. They argue that tariffs and trade uncertainty have reduced global competitiveness for US crops, while the lack of a new farm bill leaves producers without policy stability or safety‑net improvements. The group is urging Congress to ease tariff burdens, expand international market access, restore research funding, and pass updated farm legislation. Their message underscores growing concern that without swift policy action, financial stress, bankruptcies, and structural decline could accelerate across US farming, weakening rural economies and long-term national food security.
• A new agreement between the US Forest Service and Utah marks a significant expansion of collaborative forest management that could influence forest health nationwide, WoodWorking Network reports. By increasing joint capacity for timber production, wood‑utilization innovation, and large‑scale restoration, the partnership aims to accelerate treatments that reduce hazardous fuels and lower the risk of catastrophic wildfires, one of the most urgent threats to US forests. The agreement strengthens the Good Neighbor Authority, enabling states, counties, and tribes to carry out projects on federal lands. It also aligns with federal efforts to expand domestic timber supply, supporting both forest resilience and wood‑based industries. Similar agreements in Montana and Idaho suggest a broader regional model emerging. Overall, the initiative enhances the pace and scale of forest restoration, improves ecosystem health, and supports long‑term sustainability of US forests while bolstering rural economies connected to them.