Growing Demand for American Grown Agriculture

On my family farm in Georgia, every season begins with the same basic question: will the numbers work? Like farmers across the country, my family looks at the cost of seed, fertilizer, feed, fuel, and labor before we plant a crop or expand the herd. Farming has never been easy, but lately, it’s been harder to make those numbers work.

This week, I had the opportunity to testify before the Senate Agriculture Committee about the challenges farmers and ranchers are facing and what it will take to keep American agriculture strong in the years ahead.

As I shared with lawmakers, the story of today’s farm economy is one of incredible productivity paired with increasingly tight margins. Farmers today are producing more than ever. Innovation and technology have helped us grow more food, fiber, and fuel using fewer resources than ever before. But productivity alone does not pay the bills.

Across the countryside, farmers are facing a squeeze on their balance sheets. Input costs remain historically high while prices for many commodities have fallen significantly. At the same time, recent disruptions to global fertilizer markets and shipping routes are creating even more uncertainty around one of farmers’ most essential inputs.

All of this is adding to the financial pressure farmers are facing. USDA projects farm income in 2026 to be $48 billion below the highs we saw just a few years ago. Farmers are doing what they have always done. They are working harder, becoming more efficient, and adapting to change. Yet many are still struggling to stay ahead.

This challenge is bigger than a single tough year. It reflects deeper changes in the farm economy. If production continues to rise but demand doesn’t keep up, prices fall and margins shrink. This is why strengthening demand for American grown agriculture products must be part of the conversation about the future of agriculture.

Strengthening Demand for American Grown Products

Exports will always be critical to American agriculture. Farmers depend on global markets, and we must continue working to expand fair and reliable trade opportunities around the world. But global markets can also be unpredictable. Global competition is increasing, trade relationships can shift quickly, and supply chain disruptions can send ripple effects through the farm economy. That’s why growing demand here at home is so important. When American families choose food, fuel, and fiber produced by our farmers and ranchers, it strengthens rural economies and supports the people who work every day to feed and fuel our nation.

Biofuels are one example of how strong domestic demand can benefit agriculture. Ethanol and biodiesel have created major markets for crops like corn and soybeans while helping strengthen America’s energy security. Expanding year-round access to E15 and supporting new markets like sustainable aviation fuel can help create more demand for farm products while supporting rural economies.

Another way to strengthen domestic demand is by ensuring that American-grown food is prioritized in programs that serve families across the country. Millions of meals are served every day through the National School Lunch Program and meals served to our men and women in uniform. When those meals include food grown by American farmers, they provide dependable markets for farmers while supporting the nutrition of families and service members. Ensuring strong enforcement of Buy American provisions can help make sure these programs support American agriculture whenever possible.

That same principle applies beyond food. Policies like the Buying American Cotton Act are another way Congress can support demand for products grown by American farmers while also supporting domestic manufacturing. When we prioritize American-grown products, we strengthen the entire supply chain.

Preserving Farmland for the Future of American Grown Agriculture

At the same time, we must protect the foundation of American agriculture itself. Farmland is more than just land. It is a strategic national asset. Once farmland is converted to other uses, it rarely comes back into production. According to USDA, we lost 20.1 million acres of farmland between 2017 and 2022, along with more than 175,000 farms since 2017.

Keeping farmland economically viable is critical for food security, rural communities, and the future of agriculture. That’s why getting a new, modernized farm bill across the finish line remains essential. The farm bill provides the risk management tools, conservation programs, and research investments that help farmers navigate uncertainty and keep land in production for the next generation.

Keeping American Grown Products Competitive

Farmers don’t want to rely on short-term assistance. What we want are strong markets and policies that allow us to compete and succeed.

As I said in my testimony this week, farmers are ready to innovate, adapt, and meet the needs of consumers here at home and around the world. But keeping American agriculture strong will require policies that support growing demand, fair trade opportunities, and reliable farm safety net programs.

Farmers and ranchers are producing at historic levels. Now we must ensure strong market opportunities here at home to keep family farms in business.