Recent reports point to a rise in Arkansas farmers struggling with finances following steep gains in fuel and fertilizer prices. The state led the nation in farm-related Chapter 12 bankruptcy filings during the third quarter of 2026.
The state had 12 Chapter 12 filings in the third quarter, according to a report posted Thursday (Oct. 22) by the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture (UADA).
“That number is twice the six filings reported in Iowa, the next-highest state,” said Harrison Pittman, director of the National Agricultural Law Center (NALC). “So far this year, 32 agricultural operations in Arkansas have filed for Chapter 12 bankruptcy protection, highlighting the financial challenges facing the state’s agricultural sector.”…