Farm Groups Press Washington for Emergency Aid Amid Economic Crisis

DELMARVA — Agricultural leaders are pressing Washington for immediate emergency financial aid as farming operations face mounting economic pressures nationwide. Nathan Reed with the National Cotton Council says expenses have climbed dramatically while commodity prices remain under pressure. The call for federal relief comes as Arkansas leads the nation in farm bankruptcy filings, reflecting the […]

DELMARVA — Agricultural leaders are pressing Washington for immediate emergency financial aid as farming operations face mounting economic pressures nationwide. Nathan Reed with the National Cotton Council says expenses have climbed dramatically while commodity prices remain under pressure.

The call for federal relief comes as Arkansas leads the nation in farm bankruptcy filings, reflecting the severe financial stress hitting producers across multiple regions.

Meanwhile, USDA officials are urging producers to document any weather-related damage from recent storms. Sandy Chalmers with Wisconsin’s Farm Service Agency says thorough reporting is crucial for accessing potential federal disaster assistance. That information gets used to put together requests for disaster declarations.

Markets

Major crop prices dropped across the board to close the week. May corn settled at $4.65.5/bu, down 4.25 cents. May soybeans closed at $11.61.25/bu, falling 7.25 cents. May wheat finished at $5.47.75/bu, losing 3.75 cents.

Cattle markets showed strength with April live cattle gaining 77 cents to $234.05/cwt.

Forecast

Expect mostly cloudy skies this evening with temperatures around 60°F and south winds at 15 mph. Showers and thunderstorms move in tonight with lows near 47°F. Saturday brings mostly sunny skies with highs reaching 60°F and northwest winds 5-10 mph.

This article is based on the Delmarva Farm Report Update Evening Edition, March 20, 2026. Hosted by Tom Bradley.