Hundreds of scared Arkansas farmers gathered to ask Trump for help — and plead with President to show ‘fruit’ of his love. What do they expect?

"You are going to lose 25 to 30% of the farmers in this country if they don’t do something," said Scott Brown, who works 800 acres in Biggers. "In the short term, they have no choice but to mail us a check."

‘We’re in real trouble’

At the meeting, farmers shared story after story of mounting debt, aging equipment and disappearing profits.

"I farm 800 acres by myself, I can’t afford any help, I farm with paid-for equipment, all my tractors are 50 years old, and I can’t hardly make this deal work," Brown said.

"Prices that we are getting now are prices like they were when we were children, and what it costs for us to farm is astronomical now," added Melissa King. "The price of a combine when we were kids was in the $20,000s, and now it’s $100,000."

Money takeaway: For many families, today’s costs make it nearly impossible to break even, let alone pass farms down to the next generation.

Disaster on top of disaster

This financial crisis follows one of Arkansas’s worst agricultural years on record. The Arkansas Times reported that April floods killed more than 100 people across multiple states and set rice farming back for months [2].

The University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture estimated nearly $100 million in crop-related damages, with rice fields hit hardest [3].

"This time last year, the rice price was about 40% higher than it is now," said farmer Derek Haigwood. "Input costs have gone up, fertilizer has gone up, commodity prices have gotten worse. … This year is going to be worse".

The Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis notes that farm commodity prices have fallen to their lowest since 2020 [4]. And as Maggie Monast of the Environmental Defense Fund put it in July, “farmers are getting squeezed … making it harder or even impossible for them to position their businesses for long-term success” [5].

Money takeaway: Historic flooding plus inflation means many Arkansas farmers are losing money on every acre they plant.

Tariffs: the final straw

For some, tariffs are what tipped them over the edge. “Tariffs are the ice cream on the cake of a perfect storm,” Brown said.

Without tariffs, U.S. soybeans shipped to China would undercut Brazil’s prices. With them, American crops can’t compete. Yet a Purdue University survey found that 70% of producers still believe tariffs will ultimately strengthen U.S. agriculture — if they can survive long enough to see the benefits [7].

Money takeaway: Farmers support tariffs in principle, but say they need short-term relief to survive them.

The clock is ticking for farmers

President Donald Trump’s “Big, Beautiful Bill” promises expanded agricultural subsidies — but not until 2026, according to the House Committee on Ways and Means [6]. For farmers staring down loan payments this spring, that’s a lifetime away.

"We have to have ad hoc payments right now to make it through this year," Haigwood stressed.

Congressman Rick Crawford’s district director, Gene Higginbotham, offered sympathy but no timeline: “We’re going to do everything we can to get you the help you need.” But for now, the check is not in the mail.

Money takeaway: Farmers say they don’t want handouts, but without immediate aid, Arkansas could lose a third of its farms this year.

What this means for your wallet

This isn’t just a rural crisis. When family farms collapse, the effects ripple through the economy.

In the short term, fewer planted acres mean reduced crop production, which pushes up the cost of raw materials almost immediately. Within months, food manufacturers pass those higher costs along the supply chain, leaving consumers to pay more at the grocery store. And in the long run, as family farms shut down, larger corporations step in to fill the gap — reducing competition and keeping prices higher for good.

The farmers themselves are clear: they’re not asking for charity — they’re fighting for survival. Without emergency aid before spring planting season, Arkansas could lose a third of its farms.

And when the farms go, we all pay the price.

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[1]. KATV Channel 7. “Hundreds of struggling Arkansas farmers ask federal government to save them”