Certain U.S. populations face heightened risks for economic hardship, housing instability, mental health challenges, and family stress. Farmers and veterans stand out as two groups disproportionately affected by these pressures. Understanding the statistics behind these challenges is critical for raising awareness and developing effective support systems. 💸 Poverty and Economic Stress Veterans Roughly 8.4 % of U.S. veterans live in poverty , with higher rates among veteran

Veterans in Missouri — like those across the United States — face a range of complex challenges after military service, including mental health struggles, higher suicide risk, and housing instability. While progress has been made in reducing veteran homelessness, suicide and access to care remain urgent concerns. 🧠 Veteran Suicide in Missouri: A Critical Public Health Issue According to the first-ever statewide Veteran Suicide Prevention Report released by the Missouri Vete

Agriculture is as much a lifestyle as it is a profession — and for many in Missouri, the pressures of farming are taking a serious toll on mental health. Farmers face unique stressors that contribute to higher rates of anxiety, depression, and suicide compared with the general population. 🌾 Economic & Occupational Stress in Farming Farmers operate in a volatile economic landscape: unpredictable markets, fluctuating commodity prices, weather extremes, rising input costs, prol

America depends on its farmers. They feed the country.They anchor rural communities.They protect land passed down for generations. But in 2026, many of them are operating on razor-thin margins — and some are losing ground. Let’s look at what the data actually says. 1. Farm Income Has Fallen from Recent Highs After peaking in 2022, U.S. net farm income has declined significantly. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Economic Research Service , net farm income

When Americans picture a veteran, they often picture strength, discipline, and resilience. What they don’t picture is poverty. But the data tells a harder truth. 1. Millions of Veterans Are Living Below the Poverty Line According to recent U.S. Census Bureau data, 7.6% of U.S. veterans live below the federal poverty line — representing approximately 1.2 million veterans nationwide (U.S. Census Bureau, 2023–2025 estimates). While veterans as a group have a slightly lower pov

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) — officially signed into law on July 4, 2025 — goes well beyond delivering more federal payments to farmers. While higher program support and crop-insurance changes are critical, the legislation also includes major tax reforms and incentives that could reshape farm business structures, planning, and risk management . ✨ Key Agricultural & Tax Provisions 1. Expanded Safety Net & Commodity Support The bill improves safety-net programs suc

The U.S. economy is showing increasing signs of stress in both the housing and agricultural sectors. Rising mortgage delinquencies across many loan types, growing foreclosure starts — particularly in government-backed portfolios — and a marked uptick in family farm bankruptcies reveal financial pressures on households, veterans, and rural communities nationwide. This blog post walks through the most recent data and what it means for struggling borrowers, including veterans an

Some days, farming feels like hope with dirt under its nails.Other days, it feels like standing in the middle of uncertainty, wondering if the ground beneath you will hold. For many veterans and young farmers, today is one of those days. We are navigating rising costs, shrinking programs, limited access to land, and systems that were never built with our realities in mind. We’re told to be resilient, adaptable, resourceful — but too often we’re left without the tools, trainin

This year, I turn 51—and I’m choosing to celebrate it differently. Life has thrown challenges my way that I never imagined, and yet here I am, ready to embrace a fresh start with courage, resilience, and hope. Instead of gifts for me, I’m inviting you to be part of something bigger. For my 51st birthday , we’re hosting an online auction, a special giveaway, and a fundraiser to support my journey toward a new chapter in life—and to inspire others to do the same. Here’s what’

Change is never easy — especially when life pushes us into unfamiliar territory. But it is often through the very challenge of the unknown that we discover our greatest strength. Today, VYFA is honored to introduce a powerful new chapter in the journey of Amy Tilley , a changemaker many of you know as the founder of the Keep Our Vets Housed (KOVH) Foundation and a tireless advocate for veteran families facing housing insecurity. Now, Amy is stepping forward with a deeply per

On February 11th, I turn 51. I’ve restarted my life more times than I ever planned to—not because I was chasing reinvention, but because sometimes survival demands change. What I know now is this: starting over isn’t weakness. It’s wisdom earned in real time. I’ve learned that grit alone doesn’t protect your finances, your housing, or your future. What does help is learning, adapting, and being willing to try again—differently—when something no longer works. I haven’t farmed

Money stress is one of the quietest crises people face — and one of the most isolating. If you’ve ever: Felt overwhelmed just opening your bank app Avoided checking your balance because of anxiety Lived paycheck to paycheck while working nonstop Been told you “should know this by now” This workshop was built for you. The Financial Survival & Stability Workshop was created to meet people where they are — not where financial gurus think they should be. This is not about shame,

Hello friends, We want to personally welcome you to Veterans & Young Farmers Alliance. VYFA was created because we kept seeing the same pattern: veterans and young farmers stepping into agriculture with passion and commitment—but without the practical support needed to survive once they got there. Too many are encouraged to “take the leap” without being given the financial education, guidance, or community support that makes long-term success possible. Instead of tools, they’

For many veterans and young farmers, agriculture represents more than a career.It represents purpose, stability, and a chance to build something lasting. But too often, the path into farming is paved with encouragement and inspiration— not with the practical financial tools needed to survive . That is why Veterans & Young Farmers Alliance (VYFA) is launching our first workshop: Finance & Budgeting for Farm Survival . The Reality Facing Veteran & Young Farmers Veterans enteri

Agriculture isn’t just an industry — it’s the backbone of our nation’s food security, rural economies, and community resilience. Yet today, American farming is facing deep structural challenges: an aging producer population, barriers to land access, rising operating costs, and a shortage of new farmers ready to take the reins. Amid these pressures, the Veterans & Young Farmers Alliance (VYFA) represents a powerful force for renewal — connecting service members, young entrepr

Agriculture isn’t just a rural issue — it’s a national economic and food security foundation , and recent federal policy developments demonstrate just how much is at stake for everyday Americans, farmers, and especially veteran and young producers connected through the Veterans & Young Farmers Alliance (VYFA) . Here’s what you need to know — and why it matters. 1. Major Federal Support for Farmers Continues In late 2025, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) rolled out

In late 2025, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced a major federal support initiative designed to help American farms navigate ongoing economic stress. Through the Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA) Program , roughly $11 billion in one-time bridge payments will be directed to row crop producers , with an additional $1 billion set aside for specialty crops and sugar operations . Payments are expected to begin by February 28, 2026 . For established growers and those

America’s farmers are being asked to survive unprecedented economic pressure without the federal support systems designed to protect them. As Congress advances continuing resolutions and delays a new Farm Bill, critical farm aid has been left out , creating real and immediate consequences for farm families, rural economies, and food security. This moment demands action on three fronts — and it underscores why community-based nonprofits like the Veterans & Young Farmers Allian

American farmers are facing one of the most unstable economic periods in decades — and federal leadership is falling short at the exact moment support is most needed. Recent congressional funding bills moved forward without additional farm aid , leaving family farms, veteran farmers, and young producers exposed to rising costs, falling income, and growing uncertainty. While lawmakers debate timelines and budgets, rural communities are absorbing the consequences in real time.

For first‑generation farmers — those without inherited land or family farm legacy — the journey into agriculture is often filled with uphill battles: high land prices, limited access to capital, and competitive markets stacked against newcomers. But across the country, policy‑supported programs, community initiatives, and targeted advocacy are helping these farmers not only get on the land , but stay on it and thrive . Below are inspiring examples and lessons that demonstrate