For decades, farmers have been told that if we work hard, manage wisely, and stay resilient, we will succeed. But the truth is, even the best farmers can’t outwork bad policy. In both Washington and Little Rock, policymakers have allowed corporate agriculture to dictate the rules, leaving family farms like mine to fend for ourselves in an unfair system.
Subsidies That Favor the Biggest Players
Federal farm subsidies were originally designed to protect small and mid-sized farmers from market volatility and environmental risks. But today, those subsidies overwhelmingly benefit the largest agribusinesses, creating an uneven playing field. While corporate farms receive millions in government payments and tax breaks, family farms are often left struggling to make ends meet.
For example, many subsidy programs are tied to production volume—meaning the more land you own and the more crops you produce, the bigger the government check. This system rewards large-scale operations while squeezing out smaller farms that can’t compete at that scale. Instead of keeping family farms viable, these policies encourage consolidation, driving independent farmers out of business.
Trade Policies That Undercut American Farmers
International trade deals have long been sold as beneficial for American agriculture, but too often, they prioritize corporate profits over family farmers. Agreements that lower trade barriers for multinational agribusinesses frequently result in American farmers competing against subsidized foreign producers operating under different labor and environmental standards.
Arkansas rice, soybean, and cotton farmers have felt the sting of these deals. When foreign governments subsidize their own farmers while U.S. policymakers refuse to provide adequate protections, American producers are forced to sell their crops at unsustainable prices. The result? More financial pressure on small farms and more market control handed to large agribusinesses that can afford to absorb the losses.
Lack of Support for Diversification and Local Markets
One of the most effective ways to strengthen family farms is to create opportunities outside of the commodity system. Yet, state and federal policies rarely invest in the infrastructure needed for diversified agriculture. Programs that support specialty crops, regional processing facilities, and direct-to-consumer sales are underfunded, leaving farmers with few viable alternatives to the corporate-dominated supply chain.
Here in Arkansas, we should be leading the way in supporting local and regional food systems. Investments in food hubs, specialty crop research, and local market access would help small farms thrive, but instead, policymakers continue prioritizing large-scale commodity production at the expense of innovation and resilience.
Corporate Influence in Agriculture Policy
The biggest reason policy continues to fail family farmers is simple: the people writing the laws aren’t listening to us. Corporate lobbyists have a stranglehold on agricultural policy, shaping laws and regulations that benefit agribusiness giants while leaving independent farmers behind.
From crop insurance rules that benefit corporate-scale operations to anti-competitive practices in grain and meat processing, the system is designed to consolidate wealth and power in the hands of a few. This is why small farmers are seeing their margins shrink, their options disappear, and their futures put at risk.
Arkansas Lawmakers Ignoring the Crisis
The failure isn’t just happening in Washington. In the last Arkansas legislative session, not a single bill addressed the farm crisis. While farmers across the state struggle to survive, lawmakers failed to even acknowledge the issue, let alone propose solutions. Instead of taking action to protect family farms, the legislature continues to ignore the economic realities that are devastating rural communities. If state leaders refuse to step up, more Arkansas farms will disappear, and with them, the towns and families that depend on them.
What Needs to Change
If we want to save family farms in Arkansas and across the country, we need to demand better policies at both the state and federal level. Here’s where we can start:
Reforming subsidy programs to ensure they benefit small and mid-sized farms, not just corporate giants.
Expanding investment in local food systems by funding specialty crop programs, small processors, and regional market access.
Demanding fair trade policies that protect American farmers from unfair foreign competition.
Breaking up monopolies in agriculture to restore competitive markets for grain, meat processing, and farm inputs.
Creating state-level safety nets to protect farmers when federal programs fail.
It’s time for policymakers to recognize that saving family farms isn’t just about agriculture—it’s about the survival of rural America. If we allow more farms to disappear, we lose more than just businesses. We lose communities, generational knowledge, and a way of life that has sustained Arkansas for centuries.
Family farms built this country. Now, it’s time for our leaders to fight for us the way we’ve always fought for our farms, our families, and our future.
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