Farm Aid hotline operators hear from farmers in the wake of climate disasters
Listen to an episode of our podcast, Against the Grain, to hear from our hotline operators about their firsthand experience answering disaster calls.
Listen here. 2025 was a tough year for farmers and ranchers who experienced rising input costs and significant domestic and international market disruptions. To help address this, USDA is issuing $12 billion in one-time payments, but this is just a band-aid. It does nothing to address the root cause of the crisis.
If Congress acts, we can avoid a massive wave of farm foreclosures. Congress is preparing to pass another funding package before January 30th and is considering additional aid for farmers. This is an opportunity to deliver a clear message: Farmers need real relief and real solutions. One-time payments don’t help all farmers and do nothing to ensure the long-term viability of our farms and ranches.
This is an important opportunity to protect our farmers and rural communities. Farmers and advocacy organizations are working to send Congress a letter that calls for immediate and long-term relief to our farmers in the form of:
- Stable market access for farms of all sizes,
- Support for cost-saving conservation practices which increase farm viability, and
- Financial relief — available to all producers — to ensure no farms are lost due to acute financial hardship.
We need Congress to know that farmers don’t want handouts, they want security and a system that works for everyone.
This message will be most impactful coming directly from farmers. Can you help us reach as many farmers as possible with this letter before the January 19th deadline? Sign the letter here.
The published letter will include the farm name with no other personal identifiers. The letter will also be sent to press.
Not a farmer? Take action and send your Congressional representatives a message here.
