Arkansas farmers who voted for Trump now pleading with the president for emergency aid to save their farms
Generations-old farms face closure as rising costs, low crop prices, and severe weather push Arkansas farmers to seek urgent federal help.
Many farmers in Arkansas say they may soon have no choice but to close farms that have been in their families for generations or even file for bankruptcy if they do not receive emergency aid from the federal government immediately.
The farming industry in the Natural State has been rocked by increasingly tough market conditions and a slump in commodity prices. Farmers’ input costs have risen significantly due to inflation and tariffs imposed by President Trump’s administration.
Popularity of Trump adds irony
Ironically, Arkansas is one of the states where Trump is most popular. The Republican garnered 64.2% of the vote in the 2024 presidential election.
Weather woes worsen financial strain
Adding to the challenges, Arkansas was hit by severe weather earlier in the year, damaging crops. The vast majority of farmers in the state lost money in 2024, and 2025 is expected to be even worse.
“I have never been as worried as I am now about whether or not my kids and grandkids will be able to carry on,” said one of the hundreds of farmers who met with representatives earlier this week.
Urgent call for federal support
At the gathering, Arkansas farmers emphasized they want, and in some cases need, lawmakers in Washington to push Trump to provide emergency funding so they can survive until late next year, when they will start to benefit from the recently approved “Big, Beautiful Bill”.
“This time last year, the rice price was about 40 percent higher than it is now,” explained another farmer. “Input costs have gone up, fertilizer has gone up, commodity prices have gotten worse. So, after a horrible year last year where most farmers in Arkansas’ Delta lost money, this year is going to be worse. We have to have ad hoc payments right now to make it through this year.”
Rising risk of bankruptcy
Estimates suggest that between a quarter and a third of farmers in the state could face bankruptcy or be forced to close their businesses unless they receive a swift cash injection.
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