In Wisconsin, 16 farms have gone bankrupt due to Trump’s chaotic economic agenda and disastrous trade war
A new report from the American Farm Bureau Federation reveals Donald Trump’s chaotic economic agenda and disastrous trade war have decimated the country’s rural economy, with farm bankruptcies spiking by 46% in 2025 alone, the highest rate since 2020.
In 2025, 315 farms declared bankruptcy, including 16 in Wisconsin. 83% of agricultural economists say the row crop sector, such as corn, soybeans, and wheat, are in a recession, while net farm income, a broad measure of profits for farmers, is expected to decline in 2026 by $1.2 billion.
In Wisconsin, corn, soybeans, and wheat losses combined with weakening dairy, hog and poultry markets have led to a 700% increase in farm closures in 2025, while the USDA estimates that total farm debt will rise 5.2% to a record $624.7 billion in 2026.
This is a crisis of Trump’s own creation, and experts warn that no short-term government bailout — which Trump has long promised but failed to deliver — can compensate for the loss of entire export markets. Instead of looking out for American farmers, Trump bailed out Argentina’s economy while Argentina undercuts U.S. farmers in the global marketplace.
DNC Chair Ken Martin issued the following statement:
“On the campaign trail, Donald Trump professed his love for farmers. Now in office, he is kicking aside Wisconsin’s small farmers while rewarding billionaires who have never even set foot in rural America. American farmers are essential to the entire country, feeding the nation and driving the economy. Under Trump, Wisconsin farm bankruptcies are skyrocketing at the fastest rate in five years. While small farmers already bear the brunt of Trump’s chaotic tariffs, they are bracing for more as Trump’s Big Ugly Bill targets rural hospitals and decimates rural communities. Trump is single-handedly orchestrating a rural recession, with Wisconsin farmers and consumers paying the price.”
