Sen. Tom Cotton, an Arkansas cattle farmer turned senator, has raised concerns about the dire financial situation facing American farmers. Rising costs and low commodity prices are pushing generational farming families into bankruptcy, prompting Cotton to call for immediate aid. He attributes this crisis to former President Joe Biden’s economic policies, which have led to higher input costs and reduced revenues for farmers.
Cotton highlights the need for urgent intervention, pointing out that while recent farm bill reforms, such as the Working Families Tax Cut, were passed, they won’t take effect until 2026. This delay is particularly problematic as farmers have already committed to this year’s crops and won’t benefit from recent increases in commodity pricing. In Arkansas, the financial strain is evident, with projections of a $617 million decline in cash crop receipts for 2025.
The senator also criticized China’s unfair trade practices, especially the targeting of soybean farmers. Cotton noted that Arkansas is a major producer of soybeans, with the crop grown in 41 of the state’s 75 counties. He called for vigilance in ensuring fair trade agreements, echoing President Ronald Reagan’s Cold War approach. Cotton expressed appreciation for President Donald Trump’s attention to the plight of farmers and the need to continue providing relief until the new measures take effect.
Cotton emphasized the importance of maintaining support for farmers to ensure their ability to sustain their businesses for generations. He argued that food security is a matter of national security, warning that adversaries would seek to undermine generations of farmers through economic hardship. The senator is urging immediate action to bridge the gap between the current crisis and the implementation of the proposed reforms. This situation reflects the broader economic challenges facing agriculture in the United States, highlighting the need for comprehensive support and policy changes to protect the livelihoods of farming families.