Kansas Farmers Union (KFU) members gathered last month at our state convention to debate and consider policy priorities for 2026. One of those policies includes language that reads, “If a farmer cannot raise a crop that covers the cost of inputs and makes a profit, then they are not making a living wage.”
Unfortunately, that is where most farmers have been trying to live for some time, and this misguided trade war compounded already high input costs, low commodity prices, rising inflation, and growing corporate control of the ag industry.
These bridge payments may help some farmers cover some of their costs, but according to North Dakota State University economists, farmers have lost in excess of $44 billion with all of the aforementioned factors taken into account, and there are some farmers who won’t benefit from these payments at all.
The Trump administration’s $12 billion bailout to farmers won’t come anywhere close to covering all of the losses incurred, and we are not convinced these proposed payments will be equitably distributed based on past relief programs. At the end of the day, farmers want trade, not aid.
We call on Congress and the administration to prioritize developing and passing a new Farm Bill that reflects today’s challenges and realities. A better farm safety net, stable and fair markets, and stronger protections to address consolidation in agriculture must also be prioritized if we truly want to make systematic change that benefits farmers, consumers, and the economy.
About Kansas Farmers Union – Since 1907, Kansas Farmers Union (KFU) has worked to protect and enhance the economic interests and quality of life for family farmers and ranchers and their communities. Kansas Farmers Union represents its members, who are engaged in diverse farming and ranching pursuits, through education, legislation, and cooperation.
