Farm Economy
Sixth-generation farmer Sam Graves is preparing to leave Congress after 26 years, but says agriculture still faces a growing challenge in Washington: helping lawmakers understand what it takes to produce America’s food supply.
Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet discusses why he opposed the latest farm bill, his priorities for agriculture if he leads the Senate Ag Committee, and what it will take to restore bipartisanship on Capitol Hill.
Backed by the USDA’s FIELDS program and private funds, eight projects across 16 states will expand domestic capacity by over 1 million tons annually to help lower nitrogen and potash prices for U.S. farmers.
The state’s District 1 race offers a choice between an incumbent focused on crop insurance and markets, and a challenger calling for tariff relief and corporate accountability.
Josh Linville says tight nitrogen supplies, rising demand and global disruptions to sulfur supplies are keeping pressure on fertilizer markets, even if tensions in the Strait of Hormuz ease.
Growers can finally combine supplemental coverage with farm programs without losing protection that fits their operation. Meanwhile, federal officials are developing trade incentives for four countries that could expand demand for American cotton.
Meridian Ag Advisor’s Wesley Davis puts data behind 10 puzzles in the 2026 farm economy. Three of them: land values that won’t fall, input costs that won’t ease and a downturn that looks like the 1980s until it doesn’t.
A 30-year research effort at the Univ. of Missouri is working to develop black walnut cultivars that produce more edible kernels, potentially giving landowners another income stream alongside the trees’ traditional timber value.