"James Davis had the best year in his entire farming career this year. The third-generation Black row crop farmer estimated picking almost 1,300 pounds of cotton, an average of 50 bushels of soybeans, and an average of around 155 bushels of corn on 2,500 acres of his farmland in northeast Louisiana. But with U.S. commodities facing steep retaliatory tariffs overseas, he says he and many other farmers can't sell their crops for enough to cover the loans they take out to fund the growing season."
"The tariffs, Davis said, are making it almost impossible to survive. "To have that kind of yield and still not be able to pay all your bills, that tells you something is broken in the farming industry," Davis said. In order to plan for next year, farmers need relief now, Davis said. At a recent meeting with his banker, the bank projected 2026 revenues in order to secure crop loans,"
James Davis recorded nearly 1,300 pounds of cotton, about 50 bushels of soybeans, and roughly 155 bushels of corn on 2,500 acres in northeast Louisiana. Despite high yields, retaliatory tariffs on U.S. commodities depressed prices so farmers cannot sell crops for enough to cover operating loans, input costs, equipment notes, land rent and insurance. Bank projections for 2026 revenues showed expected income insufficient to cover loan obligations. The Trump administration announced a $12 billion one-time bridge payment package for farmers. The administration also dismantled decades-old USDA assistance by eliminating the "socially disadvantaged" designation.
Read at www.npr.org
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