Farmers warn Congress of potential ‘widespread collapse of American agriculture’

A group of former Agriculture Department leaders on Tuesday sent a letter to Congress warning that economic conditions combined with Trump administration policies have the potential to decimate U.S. farms, which were already struggling before these policies took effect. The letter was signed by 27 leaders, including many who were officials during the Bush and Regan administrations, and warned that increased costs, disrupted overseas markets as a result of tariffs and trade wars, lack of labor due to immigration enforcement activities, as well as a lack of funding for agricultural research are combining to create an environment where farms will shut down and food production will cease.