Devastation Is Coming: Land O’Lakes CEO Beth Ford Warns of Crisis in American Agriculture
At the Fortune Most Powerful Women Summit in October 2025, Land O’Lakes CEO Beth Ford delivered a stark message: American farmers are facing devastation.
Her warning wasn’t just about economics—it was about the fragility of the entire U.S. food system and the ripple effects every American will feel.
Why Farmers Are in Crisis
Ford outlined several compounding threats:
- Labor Shortages: Harsh immigration policies have drastically reduced the availability of farm labor. “These are folks who oftentimes try to get American labor [but] are struggling to do so,” Ford said. Without workers to harvest crops or manage livestock, farms risk collapse The Daily Beast | MSN Yahoo Finance.
- Low Commodity Prices: Grain producers and dairy farmers are being squeezed by falling prices, making it harder to stay afloat dtnpf.com.
- Declining Farm Income: Many farmers are operating at a loss, unable to cover costs or invest in future seasons dtnpf.com.
- Aging Demographics: The average age of U.S. farmers continues to rise, with fewer young people entering the profession. Ford noted that the number of dairy farmers has dropped to just 24,000—and could fall further AOL National Beef Wire.
- Loss of Farms: America has only 28% of the farms it had 90 years ago. This isn’t just attrition—it’s erosion of the country’s agricultural backbone AOL.
🧭 How This Affects Every American
Ford didn’t mince words: “A black swan event could be on the horizon.” That means a sudden, unpredictable crisis—like a food shortage or price spike—that could hit without warning The Daily Beast | MSN.
Here’s what’s at stake:
- Food Prices: With fewer farms and less labor, supply chains tighten. Expect higher prices at grocery stores and restaurants.
- Food Security: America’s ability to feed itself depends on a stable farm economy. If farms fail, imports rise—and so does vulnerability.
- Rural Communities: Farms are economic engines for small towns. Their collapse means job losses, shuttered businesses, and declining infrastructure.
- National Stability: Agriculture isn’t just about food—it’s about resilience. Ford’s warning is a call to shore up one of America’s most vital sectors before it’s too late.
🛠️ What Needs to Change
Ford has called for:
- Immigration reform to stabilize the labor force.
- Policy support to protect farm income and encourage young farmers.
- Public awareness to reconnect Americans with the realities of food production.
Beth Ford’s message is clear: the crisis isn’t coming—it’s already here. And unless bold action is taken, every American will feel the fallout.