As Donald Trump prepares for his State of the Union tonight, where he’ll lie about the impact of his toxic economic agenda in his first year in office, new farming data shows that Trump’s disastrous economic policies have negatively affected his supporters the most. According to a new report from the American Farm Bureau Federation, Trump’s reckless and illegal trade war is hitting rural economies especially hard. The report reveals that farm bankruptcies spiked 46% in 2025 alone — the highest rate since 2020 — with more than 300 family farms declaring bankruptcy last year.

While Donald Trump is onstage lying about his record, he continues to unleash a rural recession across the country, leaving farmers and consumers to pay the price.

Take a look at some of the coverage below:

Wisconsin Public Radio: Farm bankruptcies tick up in Wisconsin, US

[Hope Kirwan, 2/18/26]

“A report from the American Farm Bureau Federation highlighted last year’s increase in Chapter 12 bankruptcies, a category of bankruptcy created specifically for farms and fisheries.

“Bankruptcy filings were 46 percent higher than in 2024, according to the report, with more than a third of filings in the Midwest.

“In Wisconsin, there were 16 bankruptcy filings in 2025. By comparison, there were two filings in both 2024 and in 2023. …

“David Krekeler, bankruptcy attorney based in Madison, said bankruptcy filings are a ‘lagging indicator’ of economic hardship. He said like most businesses, farmers will often max out loans, credit cards and even retirement savings before resorting to bankruptcy.”

Minnesota Reformer: Farm bankruptcies up in Minnesota and across the Midwest

[Brian Martucci, 2/23/26]

“More Minnesota farmers filed for bankruptcy in 2025 as high input costs and low prices for most agricultural commodities squeezed profit margins, the American Farm Bureau Federation said in a report released earlier this month.

“Thirteen Minnesota farmers last year filed for Chapter 12, a section of the U.S. bankruptcy code that allows family farmers and fishermen to restructure certain debts. Four Minnesota farmers filed Chapter 12 in 2024. Across the Midwest, bankruptcy filings rose 70% in 2025 following years of rising expenses and declining income, the Farm Bureau said. …

“For months, Democrats across farm country have called out the Trump administration over what they say are its chaotic and counterproductive agriculture policies. “Democratic National Committee chair Ken Martin, who previously led the Minnesota DFL, renewed that criticism last week. 

“‘Trump is single-handedly orchestrating a rural recession, with Minnesota farmers and consumers paying the price,’ Martin said in a statement to the Reformer.”

PennLive: Are Trump’s tariffs fueling ‘financial pressures’ driving rise in U.S., Pa. farm bankruptcies?

[J.D. Prose, 2/20/26]

“American farm bankruptcies reached a six-year high in 2025 and Pennsylvania was not immune to the troubling trend that Democrats blame on President Donald Trump’s tariffs. …

“In Pennsylvania, there were 10 farm bankruptcies in 2025, up from just two in 2024. …

“The Democratic National Committee (DNC) identified eight of the bankruptcies in Pennsylvania in 2025 and found they were spread across various counties, including Centre, Washington, Somerset, Armstrong, Fayette, Wayne, Tioga and Huntingdon.

“Calling the bankruptcies ‘a crisis of Trump’s own creation,’ the DNC said he has failed farmers while approving a $20 billion bailout of Argentina.

“‘On the campaign trail, Donald Trump professed his love for farmers. Now in office, he is kicking aside Pennsylvania’s small farmers while rewarding billionaires who have never even set foot in rural America,’ said DNC Chair Ken Martin in a statement.

“Martin said farmers ‘are essential to the entire country, feeding the nation and driving the economy,’ but Trump’s policies are hurting them, as well as rural hospitals and entire communities.”

Midland Daily News: Michigan farmers face bankruptcies, other financial challenges 

[Bauyrzhan Zhaxylykov, 2/23/26]

“After several strong years, financial pressure is returning to Michigan farms.

“Rising input costs and flat crop prices have tightened margins, which led nine Michigan farms to file for Chapter 12 bankruptcy protection in 2025. …

“The trend reflects broader national pressures. Chapter 12 farm bankruptcies climbed for the second straight year, reaching 315 filings in 2025, a 46% increase from 2024, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation’s Market Intel report.”

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