# Willie Nelson Farm Aid Crisis

> Farm Aid confronts rising farmer bankruptcies and federal cuts amid a crisis.
- Title: Willie Nelson Farm Aid Crisis · Billboard | Shortify
- Summary: Farm Aid confronts rising farmer bankruptcies and federal cuts amid a crisis. Farm Aid addresses a surge in family farmer bankruptcies and USDA staff cuts as…
- Keywords: willie nelson, farm aid, family farmers, usda, chapter 12 bankruptcy, distressed borrowers assistance network, farm service agency, Willie, Nelson, Farm, Aid, Crisis
- Source: Billboard — https://billboard.com/lists/willie-nelsons-farm-aid-reasons-it-matters
- Author: Thom Duffy
- Published: 2026-09-23T17:13:23+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: willie nelson, farm aid, family farmers, usda, chapter 12 bankruptcy, distressed borrowers assistance network, farm service agency
## Farm Crisis Intensifies
Willie Nelson and friends perform at Farm Aid in Virginia Beach on Sept. 26 amid rising farm bankruptcies and federal cuts.

> You’re looking at a real crisis happening right now. the same way it was in the early ’80s when I was a child
## 41 Years of Support
Farm Aid has raised $90 million over 41 years to support family farmers since its 1985 launch.
## Bankruptcy Surge
315 family farmers filed for Chapter 12 bankruptcy in 2025, a 46 percent increase from 2024.
## USDA Staff Cuts
The USDA lost 24,000 employees in 14 months, reducing its staff by 27 percent since the Distressed Borrowers Assistance Network started.
## Farm Support Efforts
Farm Aid’s Mary Oxendine and Nora Miller train groups to help farmers navigate financial distress through the Distressed Borrowers Assistance Network.
## Crisis Deepens
Farmers face rising bankruptcy filings, USDA staff cuts, and challenges in accessing financial support as Farm Aid addresses the crisis.
## Key takeaway

Farm Aid addresses a surge in family farmer bankruptcies and USDA staff cuts as the crisis deepens.