A new Farmer & Rancher Policy Sentiment Survey from Farm Journal shows that rising input costs and tariff uncertainty are the top worries for U.S. farmers heading into the 2026 midterm election cycle. The April 2026 survey captured sentiment across commodity and specialty crop producers, painting a picture of an industry under serious financial strain. Federal policy instability is adding anxiety on top of already-tight margins.
For the produce industry specifically, this sentiment reflects what growers have been feeling on the ground — input costs are up, tariffs have disrupted both import supply and export markets, and there's little clarity on what policy looks like going forward. This kind of stress eventually shows up in planting decisions, acreage cuts, and supplier exits.
With midterms approaching, agriculture policy is going to be a political flashpoint — and how that plays out could have real implications for produce pricing and supply well into 2027.