America’s family farms are the backbone of our food supply, culture and rural communities. Yet, for too long, Washington, D.C., has sidelined farmers, offering empty promises while family farms vanish under economic and policy pressures. It’s time to make farmers a priority — not with words, but with tangible actions to save our family farms and secure our nation’s future.
The crisis is undeniable. Since the 1980s, the U.S. has lost over 20% of its farms — down from 2.2 million in 1982 to 1.9 million in 2022, according to USDA data. Small and mid-sized operations, the heart of rural America, are hit hardest, squeezed by corporate consolidation, soaring input costs, and volatile commodity prices. Fertilizer, fuel and equipment prices have surged, while farm debt reached a staggering $543 billion in 2024. Decades of bad policy and neglect from outdated Farm Bills and trade agreements have pushed family farms to the brink. If Congress doesn’t act now, we risk losing not just a way of life but the foundation of our food security.
This isn’t just an economic issue — it’s a national security crisis. For decades, America reliably exported more agricultural goods than it imported, but that surplus is shrinking. In 2023, the agricultural trade balance hit its lowest level in decades, with rising imports from countries like China and Mexico. Supply chain disruptions, like those during COVID-19, exposed the dangers of relying on foreign food. Alabama, a state where agriculture generates $70 billion annually and employs 10% of the workforce, feels this acutely.
One critical area where Congress can act is addressing excessive labor costs driven by federal policy. Many Alabama farmers rely on the H-2A visa program for temporary workers, a necessity for some, as the average U.S. farmer is 60 years old, and many young people shun farming due to its economic instability. Yet, the federally mandated Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR) requires Alabama farmers to pay H-2A workers more than double the state’s minimum wage. In 2024, H-2A wage requirements rose 7% nationwide, outpacing inflation and farm incomes. This unsustainable burden is driving many farmers out of business. Congress must reform the H-2A program to set fair, regionally adjusted wage rates that allow farmers to hire affordably while staying competitive.
Congress must treat food security as national security. Alabama’s farmers can’t afford to wait while unworkable regulations erode their profits. I refuse to stand by as family farms, the heart of our state and nation, disappear. A robust Farm Bill, coupled with H-2A reforms, is a critical first step to reverse this crisis.
When farms fail, rural communities unravel: local businesses shutter, schools lose funding and towns hollow out. In places like Dothan or Cullman, the cultural fabric of rural Alabama — rooted in family farming — frays with every lost farm. And saving America’s family farms isn’t just about preserving tradition. It’s about ensuring we can feed ourselves, sustaining rural economies and securing our future. Congress has the power to act — now it needs the will. The clock is ticking, and every lost farm is a step toward a weaker America. Let’s act before it’s too late.
Steve Marshall is the 48th Attorney General of Alabama and a candidate for U.S. Senate.
The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the policy or position of 1819 News. To comment, please send an email with your name and contact information to [email protected].
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