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Thursday, Aug 6
Save US Farms
The Daily Dirt · 2026-07-09-morning

The Daily Dirt — Morning Edition

EPA poison-stamps PFAS pesticides, farm debt hits record levels, and heat protection for farmworkers rolls back across America.

The bottom line
  • EPA approved three 'forever chemical' PFAS pesticides for use on wheat, corn, soybeans, and fruit crops on June 30, with PFAS residues already detected in 37% of California non-organic produce and 2.5 million pounds sprayed annually.
  • U.S. farm sector debt is projected to hit a record $624.7 billion in 2026, up 5.2% from 2025, as rising production costs and low commodity prices force farmers into deeper borrowing and rising bankruptcy filings.
  • Chapter 12 farm bankruptcies hit their highest monthly total since February 2020 in April 2026 with 62 filings, a 130% jump year-over-year, concentrated in the Midwest and Southeast.
  • Some states, including Florida, are rolling back or blocking farmworker heat protection laws, leaving 140,000+ agricultural workers vulnerable despite farmworkers being 35 times more likely to die from heat-related illness.
  • Senate Agriculture Committee draft 2026 Farm Bill includes language to study PFAS impacts on farmland exposed to firefighting foams, sewage sludge, and compost.
  • Farmland consolidation accelerated: 58% of small farms are identified as 'at risk' for sale or acquisition before 2030, with institutional investors acquiring prime acreage as family operations face financial pressure.

The Daily Dirt — July 9 Morning

Three days ago, the EPA quietly approved pesticides that will poison American soil for decades. While that sinks in, farm debt just hit a record high, bankruptcy filings are surging, and farmworkers are losing the few heat protections they had.

The Forever Chemical Bet

The EPA approved three pesticides classified as PFAS — “forever chemicals” — for use on major food crops. These don’t break down. Once in the soil, they stay, leaching into groundwater and accumulating in crops. Civil Eats reported that PFAS residues already show up in 37% of California non-organic produce. This approval will multiply that problem across wheat, corn, soybeans, apples, almonds, and citrus.

The Debt Spiral

USDA forecasts show farm sector debt climbing to $624.7 billion in 2026 — a record. That’s up 5.2% from 2025. Net farm income will drop to $153.4 billion, nearly half the 2022 peak. Farmers are borrowing at record levels just to stay in operation. U.S. Courts bankruptcy data shows Chapter 12 farm bankruptcies hit 62 filings in April 2026, a 130% jump from April 2025 and the highest monthly total in six years.

Farmworkers Losing Ground

NPR reported that Florida and other states are rolling back heat protection laws as farmworkers face 120°F+ field temperatures. Farmworkers are 35 times more likely to die from heat-related illness than other workers. Federal OSHA protections haven’t moved in a year. Only five states — California, Washington, Colorado, Minnesota, and Michigan — have real heat protections in place. Florida explicitly prevents them.

What to Watch

The Senate Agriculture Committee’s draft 2026 Farm Bill includes a provision to study PFAS impacts on farmland — a small acknowledgment of the crisis. Watch whether Congress expands that language into actual remediation funding or restrictions. Also watch farmland sales data through Q3: consolidation is accelerating as family farms break under debt pressure.

Save US Farms Desk

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