Arkansas is seeing a sharp rise in Chapter 12 farm bankruptcies—more than almost any other state. Dr. Ryan Loy, ag economist at the University of Arkansas, warns the financial stress is deeper than reported, as farmers struggle with high input costs, weak commodity prices, and fading pandemic-era support. With 15 bankruptcies from April 2024 to March 2025—the most in nearly a decade—experts are calling for stronger financial tools and policy support to help farmers stay afloat.
