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Maria Cantwell: “USDA estimates that farm debt will rise to a record of more…”

Featuring: Maria Cantwell, Democratic | U.S. Senate from Washington

Maria Cantwell Skewers Republicans Over Rising Costs, Says They 'Don't Want To Police The Markets'

Published February 27, 2026 | Video Starts at 02:01

This is important, I believe, because competition is vital to keeping prices affordable for consumers. And American farmers and ranchers are under extreme financial strain. The average farm operating loan size increased by 30% in 2025. And USDA estimates that farm debt will rise to a record of more than $620 billion in 2026. So right there we should just grasp if we want to try to make food more affordable, the fact that we have less and less people providing it is a real issue. (02:01–02:09)

CLAIM

Asserts that USDA projects farm debt to exceed $620 billion in 2026.

This is an excerpt from a raw transcript. The assertions have not been audited or verified. Tap the video to view the source footage and understand the context.

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Maria Cantwell

“The average farm operating loan size increased by 30% in 2025.”
Maria Cantwell Skewers Republicans Over Rising Costs, Says They 'Don't Want To Police The Markets' | Uploaded February 27, 2026 | 01:55-02:01
“Four companies control 61% of nitrogen, 75% of phosphate, 82% of potash markets.”
Maria Cantwell Skewers Republicans Over Rising Costs, Says They 'Don't Want To Police The Markets' | Uploaded February 27, 2026 | 03:10-03:19
“Interest expenses are expected to reach a record $33 billion in 2026.”
Maria Cantwell Skewers Republicans Over Rising Costs, Says They 'Don't Want To Police The Markets' | Uploaded February 27, 2026 | 03:43-03:50
“Nationally, 140,000 farms were lost during the same period.”
Maria Cantwell Skewers Republicans Over Rising Costs, Says They 'Don't Want To Police The Markets' | Uploaded February 27, 2026 | 05:00-05:04
“The Farm Bureau recently reported that over 300 farms filed for bankruptcy in 2025.”
Maria Cantwell Skewers Republicans Over Rising Costs, Says They 'Don't Want To Police The Markets' | Uploaded February 27, 2026 | 02:20-02:26
“That is a 46% increase compared to 2024.”
Maria Cantwell Skewers Republicans Over Rising Costs, Says They 'Don't Want To Police The Markets' | Uploaded February 27, 2026 | 02:25-02:32
“Wheat growers from my state have told me they faced an estimated excess of 40 to 100 million dollars annually from these fertilizer prices.”
Maria Cantwell Skewers Republicans Over Rising Costs, Says They 'Don't Want To Police The Markets' | Uploaded February 27, 2026 | 03:23-03:34
“Family farms cannot experience significant cost increase to their operations and at the same time lose some of their best customers.”
Maria Cantwell Skewers Republicans Over Rising Costs, Says They 'Don't Want To Police The Markets' | Uploaded February 27, 2026 | 04:40-04:49
“3,700 farms close in the state of Washington from 2017 to 2022.”
Maria Cantwell Skewers Republicans Over Rising Costs, Says They 'Don't Want To Police The Markets' | Uploaded February 27, 2026 | 04:51-04:57
“An estimated 20,000 farms shut down over the last two years.”
Maria Cantwell Skewers Republicans Over Rising Costs, Says They 'Don't Want To Police The Markets' | Uploaded February 27, 2026 | 05:03-05:09
“The FCC studied grocery mergers in 2012 and found that mergers do not lower grocery prices.”
Maria Cantwell Skewers Republicans Over Rising Costs, Says They 'Don't Want To Police The Markets' | Uploaded February 27, 2026 | 05:16-05:26
“The proposed grocery merger between Alberts and Kroger's would have raised grocery prices for consumers by 5% in Albertson stores and 8% in…”
Maria Cantwell Skewers Republicans Over Rising Costs, Says They 'Don't Want To Police The Markets' | Uploaded February 27, 2026 | 05:30-05:42
“This would have resulted in my state consumers paying around $800 million more in higher grocery prices.”
Maria Cantwell Skewers Republicans Over Rising Costs, Says They 'Don't Want To Police The Markets' | Uploaded February 27, 2026 | 05:41-05:49
“Thankfully, the merger was blocked by the Washington Attorney General and the ftc.”
Maria Cantwell Skewers Republicans Over Rising Costs, Says They 'Don't Want To Police The Markets' | Uploaded February 27, 2026 | 05:49-05:54