Rising mediation cases signal deepening financial stress for Minnesota farmers

ST. PAUL, Minn. (KFGO/KVRR) — The president of Minnesota Farmers Union says while the Farmer Bridge Assistance Program is welcome, ag producers don’t want to rely on ad hoc payments from the government.

“Farmers want their money from trade, they don’t want it from aid,” Gary Wertish said.

Minnesota’s farmer mediation program helps producers dealing with difficult financial situations. Wertish says the program is helping more people than ever.

“Halfway through the summer, by August or September, we already had more people filing for mediation in 2025 than we had in all of 2023 and 2024 combined,” Wertish said. “So obviously the need is there.”

Wertish calls the $12 billion being distributed primarily to row crop farmers a band-aid in the midst of a financial crisis in agriculture.