Hansen’s Dairy, a seventh-generation Iowa Dairy Farm, operates a creamery that produces butter, cheese curds, and ice cream, along with offering farm tours that include cows and kangaroos. While the farm faces challenges with oversupply of milk, the Hansens are looking at new opportunities. They believe A2A2 milk, which may be easier for some consumers to digest, could help bring in new customers and reduce waste.

Washington rancher and legislator Tom Dent says supporting small farmers requires reducing regulatory burdens while recognizing their role as environmental stewards. He points to rising costs, heavy state-level rules, and the realities of family farms working long hours just to stay afloat. Dent argues that while federal farm programs remain important, they are not enough on their own. A more balanced approach, he says, begins with listening to farmers themselves.

Corn is growing in places it never used to, while Florida citrus has dropped 90% in two decades. Across the country, farmers are experiencing drought, flooding, and billion-dollar weather disasters. Climate Land Leaders, led by Teresa Opheim, brings farmland owners together to focus on soil health, water quality, and land legacy planning—without getting stuck in political debates. Their approach: unitearound conservation so the land can thrive for generations to come.

Farmland analyst Randy Dickhut sees continued strong interest in farmland through late 2025, but expects a modest rise in land available for sale. Financial pressures on some producers and missed earlier market highs could bring more parcels to market. Livestock profits are supporting pastureland values, while crop prices remain under pressure. Buyers may range from neighboring farmers to outside investors, with no large-scale selloff expected.

Farmers in Arkansas are sounding the alarm—and for good reason. While financial stress is widespread across U.S. agriculture, Arkansas is experiencing Chapter 12 bankruptcies at a pace faster than almost any other state.

Dr. Ryan Loy, an agricultural economist at the University of Arkansas, has been tracking the numbers closely. He warns the data likely understates the real picture. “Some farmers aren’t yet reflected in the latest filings,” he told American Farmland Owner. “The stress is worse than what we’re seeing on paper.”

Farmland values across eight Midwest states rose 1.1% in early 2025, according to Farm Credit Services of America’s latest report. But Executive VP Tim Koch says market headwinds—like softer commodity prices and uncertain interest rates—could push values down in the coming months. “It’s a very local market,” he notes, driven by nearby buyers and cautious producer sentiment.

After two decades of fighting for immigration reform, Idaho Dairymen’s Association CEO Rick Naerebout believes change may finally be within reach. Amid chaos and uncertainty for farm employers and their workforce, Naerebout remains focused on creating legal pathways for essential dairy workers. He discusses the unique labor demands of dairy operations and how recent policies from the White House may affect that.

Mike and Cathy Pullins didn’t plan to become Ohio’s berryambassadors, but customers, and life, had other ideas. From double lung transplants to black raspberries and family succession, the couple behind Champaign Berry Farm opens up about why more farmers should consider growing berries and how it might just be the perfect second career. In our interview they discuss:

• Berry crops as a high-value, small-acreage specialty suitable for diversified farms

• Labor seasonality and integrated weed management for perennial fruit systems

• Physiological resilience, aging farmers, and sustainable farm succession models

• Real-world examples of role delineation and adaptive management in family-run horticultural operations

Mary Swander is taking Map of My Kingdom back on the road, using storytelling and theater to crack open one of rural America’s toughest conversations: farm succession. With wit, warmth, and a bit of role-play, her one-woman show invites families to finally talk about what comes next for their land. After each performance, audiences engage in candid community discussions—often emotional, sometimes life-changing. With only 56% of U.S. farms having a plan in place, Swander’s work is as urgent as it is creative.

While debates swirl in Washington over clean energy tax credits, farmer and entrepreneur Mitchell Hora is optimistic. As CEO of Continuum Ag, Hora is already helping farmers benefit from the extended Section 45Z credits in the Inflation Reduction Act, which reward low-carbon farming practices. Hora believes this legislation could be a multi-billion-dollar opportunity that revitalizes rural America and reshapes global agriculture.