The 2025 Iowa Farm and Rural Life Poll, conducted by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Sociology, highlights ongoing economic and policy challenges faced by Iowa’s farmers. The annual survey, which gathered responses from nearly 950 farmers statewide, provides insights into farmers’ perspectives on the ups and downs of specialized commodity production.
“Prices of agricultural commodities such as corn and soybeans are highly volatile, and while the costs of inputs such as seeds and fertilizer tend to rise when prices are high, they are slow to decline when crop prices drop,” said J. Arbuckle, director of the farm poll, extension sociologist and Henry A. Wallace Chair for Sustainable Agriculture at Iowa State University. “This puts farmers in a stressful ‘cost-price squeeze’ situation. This year’s survey examined farmers’ feelings about that and related dynamics.”
Key findings from the survey include:
Rising input costs and profit margins. Nearly all farmers agreed or strongly agreed that the cost of inputs — such as seeds and chemicals — seems to rise faster when profit margins are higher. Additionally, 88% agreed that profit margins on corn and soybeans are eroded by land rents and input costs more quickly than in the past, underscoring persistent financial pressures in row crop production.
Economic uncertainty and risk. The survey found that 85% of farmers agreed or strongly agreed that the boom-bust cycles of commodity production are hard on farmers, and 69% sometimes feel they have little control over farm profitability. Additionally, 67% agreed that heavy reliance on corn and soybeans contributes to financial risk, while 60% reported feeling overly dependent on purchased inputs.
Policy perspectives. Federal commodity programs, such as crop insurance and the Price Loss Coverage program, remain important safety nets for Iowa farmers. Sixty-five percent of respondents agreed that these programs have been vital for their operations. However, 64% expressed concern about how changes to the Farm Bill might affect their farms.
Farm and rural structural issues. The poll also examined attitudes toward farm and rural structural changes. Nearly seven in 10 farmers (69%) agreed that increased specialization in commodities like corn, soybeans and hogs has led to a loss of farms. Only 16% felt that shifts away from diversified farm operations of the past toward specialized grain or livestock production have been good for Iowa’s farmers, and just 13% agreed that such specialization has benefited rural communities.
“It’s pretty clear that Iowa farmers feel that the shift over time from diversified systems to specialized production of a few commodities has been hard on farmers and rural communities, collectively speaking,” Arbuckle concluded.
“We’ve asked most of these questions multiple times since 2009, and there has been surprisingly little change in responses over time,” noted Arbuckle. “These economic stressors appear to be chronic and affecting most Iowa farmers, so we need to be thinking about how to help farmers cope, or better yet, figure out strategies, such as diversification, to reduce vulnerability to crop-price squeeze dynamics.”
David Brown, behavioral health state specialist with ISU Extension and Outreach, emphasized that farmers who are struggling can find a helping hand. “Farm families today face tremendous stress from high input costs and the unpredictability of markets and weather. These pressures can feel overwhelming, but they don’t have to face them alone,” said Brown. “There are many resources available, such as Iowa Concern, which offers free, confidential support for Iowans navigating difficult times.”
The 2025 Farm Poll summary report focuses on other issues, including Iowa farmers’ use of and attitudes about agricultural drones, concerns about and management of soil compaction and opinions about different forms of renewable energy production.
About the Iowa Farm and Rural Life Poll
The Iowa Farm and Rural Life Poll is the longest-running survey of its kind in the U.S., providing information to guide research, extension programs and policy decisions. Copies of the full report are available from the Iowa State University Extension Store, and all reports are available at the Iowa Farm and Rural Life Poll website. Iowa Concern is available 24/7 at 800-447-1985.
