U.S. farmland losses reach 2.5 million acres in 2025

The United States is experiencing a significant loss of agricultural land. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), 2.5 million acres of farmland were lost in 2025, with 15,000 farms and ranches either going out of business or consolidating into larger operations. Small-scale farms constitute the majority of these closures.

A primary driver of this trend is the increasing acquisition of farmland by corporate interests, including institutional investors, pension funds, and private equity firms. Austin Bryniarski of the National Family Farm Coalition notes that these entities view farmland as a stable asset, leading to a buying frenzy that drives up prices. This makes it increasingly difficult for individual farmers to purchase land, often forcing them into leasing arrangements instead.