Midwest farmers face crisis of mounting debt, bankruptcies

Vol. 84/No. 40 - October 12, 2020
Nebraska hog farmer Jim Bartling feared he would have to euthanize pigs like fellow farmers when packinghouse bosses shut plants in April. More farmers are filing for bankruptcy today.

LINCOLN, Neb. — Rising debts and plummeting incomes are forcing more farmers to file for bankruptcy, despite the likelihood that federal payments supposedly to compensate farmers will hit record levels. About 580 farmers filed for Chapter 12 bankruptcy protection in…