At the Veterans & Young Farmers Alliance, Memorial Day is more than a long weekend. It is a reminder that the freedoms we live under were paid for by service members who never made it home. Memorial Day is a day of remembrance for those who gave their lives in military service. For veterans, military families, and the farming communities we work with, it carries a deeper weight. It connects sacrifice in uniform to the ongoing responsibility we share on American soil. From Ser

At VYFA, we believe agriculture is about more than equipment.It’s about people. It’s about veterans trying to rebuild their lives after service. It’s about struggling family farms holding on through impossible seasons. It’s about rural communities fighting to survive while the world forgets they exist. That’s why Kubota stands out to us. While many major corporations give back in some way, Kubota has built a reputation for supporting communities at the ground level — not just

America is waking up to something many rural communities, veterans, and family farmers have warned about for years: Food security is not just an agriculture issue. It is a national security issue. The 2026 House Farm Bill debate has brought farmland ownership, foreign investment, food supply chains, and agricultural resilience into the center of national conversation. Policymakers are no longer discussing agriculture only as an economic sector. Increasingly, they are discussi

Every few years, Congress passes something called the Farm Bill. Most people assume it only affects farmers. That assumption is outdated. The 2026 Farm Bill is one of the most important workforce, food security, and rural development packages in the United States. It determines how billions of dollars are allocated across agriculture, land stewardship, training programs, food systems, and rural job creation. But the real story is bigger than agriculture policy. It’s about whe

Across California—and increasingly across the United States—families are being pushed into an impossible situation: pay large lump-sum “down payments” to keep essential utilities active, or risk losing power entirely. This is not a minor billing inconvenience. It is a structural barrier that is quietly destabilizing households, farms, and rural communities that are already under extreme financial pressure. And it is happening now. When “Payment Plans” Stop Being Real Help On

The 2026 Farm Bill continues a long pattern in U.S. agriculture policy—one that stabilizes existing farming operations while doing very little to address the real barrier facing the next generation: Getting into farming in the first place. It strengthens safety nets, expands insurance tools, and supports established commodity production systems—but it does not solve the deeper crisis of entry, access, and opportunity. That gap is exactly why the Veterans & Young Farmers Agric

The Farm Bill 2026 is being framed as a “modernization” of U.S. agriculture policy, but beneath the political language, it is better understood as an incremental update to an already stressed farm economy—not a full reset. While lawmakers describe it as a step toward stabilizing agriculture, farmers and analysts alike are pointing out a deeper reality: this bill strengthens existing systems more than it fixes the structural barriers facing new and small farmers. 📦 What the F

On May 15, communities across the United States will come together for the VYFA National Day of Action, led by the Veterans & Young Farmers Alliance (VYFA). This national initiative brings attention to two urgent and interconnected challenges: Veterans returning home without clear pathways to stable careers, housing, and purpose A growing shortage of farmers, agricultural workers, and accessible land for new entrants into agriculture The VYFA movement is built on a simple but

The Veterans & Young Farmers Alliance (VYFA) exists because two critical groups in America — our veterans and our next generation of farmers — are being left behind in systems that were never built to support them long-term. Today, the fight is not just about agriculture. It is about survival, stability, and the future of America’s food system. Our petition is a direct call to action:👉 https://c.org/pd8WL5T9YT We are asking the public, policymakers, and communities across th

Across the United States, small family farms are disappearing at an alarming rate. What once defined the American landscape is now under intense economic pressure and structural imbalance. This is not just an agricultural issue. It is a growing crisis that impacts food security, economic stability, and the future of rural America—raising urgent questions about who will step in to replace those who are leaving the industry. The Quiet Collapse of the American Family Farm Small

There is a quiet collapse happening across America—and most people don’t even see it. Family-run farms, once the backbone of this country’s food system, are being squeezed from every direction: rising costs, labor shortages, and policies that no longer reflect reality. If this continues, the result won’t just be fewer farms. It will be a fundamental shift in how—and whether—Americans can afford to eat. We’ve Lost Our Connection to the Land A century ago, farming wasn’t a nic

The American food system is facing a crisis that most people never see coming—until it hits their grocery bill. A new nationwide survey reveals a staggering reality: 70% of U.S. farmers cannot afford all the fertilizer they need for the 2026 growing season. Let that sink in. This isn’t just a farming problem. It’s a food security problem, an economic problem, and a national stability problem. The Breaking Point for American Farmers The survey, conducted by the American Farm

There’s a crisis unfolding across Missouri—and most people will never see it. It’s not loud. It doesn’t make headlines.And it doesn’t trend. But it’s happening every day, in barns, in fields, and at kitchen tables across rural America. Small farms are disappearing.And the people behind them are breaking under the weight of it. 📊 The Reality: Small Farms Are the Backbone—And They’re Struggling Missouri is home to nearly 100,000 farms , making it one of the top farming state

Missouri sits at the heart of American agriculture—but the real story isn’t just about corn and soybeans. It’s about small farms quietly growing , an aging farmer population , and a critical gap that new farmers are struggling to fill . If you care about the future of farming, land access, or building programs that actually help people get started—this matters more than you think. Missouri is one of the strongest small-farm states in the country. Roughly one-third of all far

The cancellation of the Veterans Affairs Servicing Purchase (VASP) program has triggered a silent but rapidly escalating crisis—one that extends far beyond housing. It is a warning sign of systemic instability affecting veterans, rural communities, and even the future of agriculture in America. For organizations like the Veterans & Young Farmers Alliance (VYFA), this issue isn’t just about mortgages—it’s about access, stability, and the ability to build a future on land that

The American farm is under siege, and the enemy isn’t just bad weather or fluctuating markets. It’s a quiet, high-stakes takeover of our most precious resource: the soil. As we navigate the debates surrounding the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 , the Veterans and Young Farmers Alliance (VYFA) is drawing a line in the sand. We aren’t just fighting for veterans; we are fighting for every young farmer who has been outbid by a hedge fund and every rural community b

The American agricultural landscape is facing a pivotal moment, characterized by a complex interplay of demographic shifts, financial hurdles, and economic volatility. Understanding these challenges is essential for developing sustainable solutions that ensure food security and support the livelihoods of those dedicated to farming. This post delves into three critical statistics shaping the industry today. 1. The Graying Workforce: The Need for New Farmers One of the most sig

The American landscape is changing, and not just in the ways we might see from a car window. Beneath the surface of our amber waves of grain and rolling dairy pastures, a crisis is unfolding. Our farming population is aging, the barriers to entry for new producers have never been higher, and the mental health of our rural neighbors is under unprecedented strain. At the Veterans and Young Farmers Alliance (VYFA) , we believe the solution to these challenges lies in a unique an

For years, the nation believed the worst of the housing crisis was behind us. Foreclosure rates had stabilized, protections were in place, and programs existed to help homeowners—especially veterans—stay in their homes. But in 2026, a different reality is emerging. A quiet, devastating trend is taking hold across the United States: foreclosures are rising again—and veterans are being hit harder and faster than most Americans realize. 📊 The Data We Can’t Ignore Recent housing

Farming isn’t just a job — it’s a way of life . For millions of family farms across the United States, the land and livelihood are inseparable from home. But when work overtakes family priorities — when long hours in the fields crowd out time with spouses, children, and loved ones — the consequences can be profound. The toll affects not just relationships, but mental health, physical wellbeing, safety, and the long-term sustainability of farm operations. 1. Farming Is Stressf