Few Iowans, myself included, would have initially predicted that Zach Lahn would come out on top in Iowa’s Republican gubernatorial primary. Regardless of the factors that shaped the outcome, the race sparked renewed discussion about issues facing rural communities, including the future of family farms, changing patterns of landownership, and the long-term economic health of agricultural America.
The American family farm is more than just a business. It is a way of life, a cornerstone of local communities, and a symbol of independence and self-reliance that built this nation. From the corncob columns of our nation’s Capitol to the beanfields of Iowa and the dairy farms of Wisconsin, family farms have fed America, powered rural economies, and passed down traditions from one generation to the next.
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Today, that way of life is slipping away.
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Across the country, family farmers are facing unprecedented challenges. The number of farms in the United States has steadily declined, falling from more than 2 million in 2017 to fewer than 1.9 million in 2024. Thousands of farm families have left the industry altogether, unable to withstand rising costs, shrinking margins, and an increasingly difficult regulatory environment. While America remains one of the most productive agricultural nations in the world, the people responsible for that success are struggling to survive.
My family has lived in Iowa for seven generations, so I’ve seen firsthand that every time a family farm closes its doors, a piece of rural America disappears with it. Local businesses lose customers, schools lose students, churches lose members, and communities that have existed for generations become smaller and weaker.
The greatest challenge facing farmers today is the rising cost of doing business. The equipment necessary to operate a modern farm has become dramatically more expensive. Tractors, combines, irrigation systems, fuel, fertilizer, and crop protection products all cost significantly more than they did just a few years ago, and commodity prices haven’t risen enough to make up the difference.
Trade uncertainty is yet another drain on the American farmer. When export markets shrink, American farmers are often the first to bear the consequences.
Agricultural exports have declined in recent years, reducing opportunities for producers who rely on international demand to sustain their operations. Large corporate farms can withstand the unpredictable price fluctuations caused by arbitrary decisions in Washington. Family farmers cannot.
At the same time, many farmers feel buried under layers of regulations that increase costs without improving productivity. Whether it involves pesticide restrictions, permitting requirements, or reporting obligations, compliance consumes valuable time and resources.
Most farmers are not looking for special treatment. They simply want the ability to do what they do best: grow food, care for their land, and provide for their families.
Another question facing families across our nation is, what happens next? The average American farmer is now nearly 60 years old, and approximately two-thirds of U.S. farmland is owned by individuals age 65 and older. As a result, millions of acres of farmland are expected to change hands over the coming decade.
Many families struggle with how to transfer operations to the next generation, while young farmers face high land prices, expensive equipment, and significant barriers to entry. In some cases, taxes, estate-planning challenges, and financial pressures force families to sell land that has been in their possession for generations. When this happens, opportunities for future generations disappear, and family farms are increasingly absorbed into larger operations or sold to outside investors. The future of American agriculture depends on ensuring that the next generation can afford not only to inherit the family farm, but also to keep it.
Supply chain disruptions have reminded us that dependence on foreign nations for critical goods creates vulnerabilities. A nation that cannot feed itself ultimately surrenders independence.
Saving the American family farm should not be a partisan issue. Rural communities deserve leaders who recognize that farmers are not asking for handouts; they are asking for a fair chance to compete and succeed.
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That means expanding access to export markets, reducing unnecessary regulatory burdens, investing in infrastructure that connects rural communities to consumers, supporting domestic energy production to lower input costs, ensuring that tax policy does not force families to sell their farms simply to pay the government, and encouraging young Americans to enter agriculture.
The fall of the American farm is not inevitable. It is the result of choices, policies, and priorities that can be changed. With renewed attention, rural voters are pushing for change that stops the decline of the American farm and allows their families to thrive for generations to come.
Jagaar Halverson is a policy fellow at Advancing American Freedom.
