Crop Production NAICS 111

Feb 23, 2026 - Fear of Collapse

• 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.
• US soybean farmers face a pivotal moment as global trade dynamics shift and Brazil’s rapid expansion reshapes the competitive landscape, Farm Journal reports. Although China has committed to 12 MMT of US soybean purchases under the current trade truce, and may add politically motivated “goodwill” buys, high Chinese tariffs still block private crushers from purchasing US beans, keeping America a secondary supplier behind Brazil. Future commitments, including a proposed 25 MMT per year for three years, remain unconfirmed, adding uncertainty for growers. Meanwhile, Brazil’s robust production growth, infrastructure improvements, and deep trade ties with China continue to erode US export share. With global deglobalization trends and shrinking US market dominance, experts urge farmers to shift focus from maximizing volume to protecting margins. Also, a planned 30% expansion in US soybean processing offers a domestic demand buffer, and incentive for producers to focus on building domestic demand.

• Long-awaited assistance for America’s struggling farmers, delayed by the government shutdown, arrived in December, The New York Times reports. At a White House event with farmers, President Trump unveiled a $12 billion rescue package with most of the relief funds coming from the USDA’s Farmer Bridge Assistance program. According to the Agriculture Department, the money will go to producers of corn, cotton, sorghum, soybeans, rice, wheat, and other row crops, with payments to farmers to be made by the end of February. The Trump administration will initially distribute $11 billion and is reserving another $1 billion to support growers of fruits and vegetables as needed, according to NYT. Still, the total payout to farmers could be far less than their recent losses caused by Trump’s tariffs and trade war with China, which caused China to retaliate by boycotting US farm products, most notably soybeans.
• Record‑high copper prices have triggered a surge in copper theft across the nation’s farms, causing major damage to irrigation systems, pumps, and electrical infrastructure, Farm Journal reports. Ground zero of copper theft arguably is central California’s Tulare County, often ranked as the US’s top ag-producing county. For crop producers, this crime wave leads to higher repair costs, unexpected downtime, and lost yield potential, especially when thieves target pivot wiring or pump stations during critical irrigation windows. A new farm security innovation, Cop‑R‑Lock, is designed to deter theft by physically securing copper components and providing constant monitoring. Dubbed the watchman that never sleeps, the new technology reduces the risk of irrigation outages, protecting crop health during heat or drought. Cop‑R‑Lock lowers maintenance and replacement costs, which have soared due to repeated theft incidents, and offers greater operational reliability, especially in remote fields where surveillance is difficult, according to Farm Journal.