By — Deema Zein Deema Zein By — Cecilia Lallmann Cecilia Lallmann Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/watch-why-more-family-farms-are-filing-for-bankruptcy Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter WATCH: Why more family farms are filing for bankruptcy Nation Updated on Oct 7, 2025 5:00 PM EDT — Published on Sep 12, 2025 5:40 PM EDT The number of American farms struggling to stay afloat is on the rise. Family farm bankruptcy filings last year were up 55% from 2023 and are already trending higher this year. While bankruptcies are rising, almost $66 billion in agriculture aid passed in President Trump’s ‘big, beautiful bill’ is on the way to help offset farmers’ losses. Could these investments help slow the trend of U.S. farms filing for bankruptcy? PBS News spoke to three experts to breakdown what’s behind the turmoil and how the Trump administration’s policy agenda could effect the agriculture industry. A free press is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy. Support trusted journalism and civil dialogue. Donate now By — Deema Zein Deema Zein Deema Zein is a digital anchor, correspondent for PBS News/ PBS News Hour. By — Cecilia Lallmann Cecilia Lallmann Cecilia Lallmann is a video production assistant at the PBS NewsHour.
The number of American farms struggling to stay afloat is on the rise. Family farm bankruptcy filings last year were up 55% from 2023 and are already trending higher this year. While bankruptcies are rising, almost $66 billion in agriculture aid passed in President Trump’s ‘big, beautiful bill’ is on the way to help offset farmers’ losses. Could these investments help slow the trend of U.S. farms filing for bankruptcy? PBS News spoke to three experts to breakdown what’s behind the turmoil and how the Trump administration’s policy agenda could effect the agriculture industry. A free press is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy. Support trusted journalism and civil dialogue. Donate now