- Family farmers’ financial struggles took center stage at Farm Aid 2026 in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
- Musicians, farmers and advocates gathered Sept. 26 at Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater to highlight threats to farms and the communities they support.
- The annual benefit came as Chapter 12 farm bankruptcy filings rose 46% in 2025 and about 15,000 farms closed nationwide, according to Farm Aid.
A stage for farmers’ concerns
Farm Aid brought together music and advocacy to highlight the financial pressures facing family farmers. The organization called for policies and public support that help farmers remain on their land and sustain local food systems.
Since its founding in 1985, Farm Aid has raised more than $90 million to support family farmers, expand markets for their food and advance its vision of an agricultural system centered on family farms.
Community impact
Farm Aid board members Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Neil Young, Dave Matthews, Margo Price and Nathaniel Rateliff joined farmers and other artists at the event to emphasize what communities can lose when family farms disappear.
“When farmers can’t make it, we lose access to food, businesses lose customers and communities lose people and land that can’t be replaced,” Nelson said.
Farm Aid described family farms as important sources of food, jobs and economic activity in rural towns and counties. The organization also linked farm viability to stewardship of soil, water and farmland.
Farmland under pressure
In Virginia, farmers face growing competition for land from development, including the expanding data center industry, according to Farm Aid. Virginia Beach has more than 23,000 acres of farmland alongside residential neighborhoods, businesses and one of the nation’s largest military communities. That mix puts the festival’s focus on farm preservation at the center of a local debate over how communities use their land
Beyond the concert stage
The concert capped several days of farmer-focused programming, including a Distressed Borrowers Assistance Network training, the annual Farmer Forum, two farm tours and the Farm Aid Family Reunion: “We the Farmers” Takeover.
At the festival, HOMEGROWN Village offered hands-on activities exploring climate, soil, water, energy, food and farming. HOMEGROWN Concessions featured food from family farms and Chesapeake-region products, including Well Sown Estate Lager from Wheatland Spring Farm + Brewery.
The programming connected the event’s performances with practical support for farmers and opportunities for visitors to learn about agriculture.
Farm Aid’s mission
Farm Aid says it seeks to build a more vibrant agricultural system centered on family farms. Since its founding in 1985, the organization has raised more than $90 million to help farmers, support the Good Food Movement and encourage consumers to buy food from family farms.
The bigger question
Farm Aid used the festival to connect farmers’ financial difficulties with broader concerns about food, land and community survival. As local governments weigh development proposals and policymakers consider agricultural support, how can they keep family farms financially stable and farmland available for future generations?
The stats
These figures describe national farm trends, Virginia Beach farmland and Farm Aid’s cumulative fundraising. They do not measure the festival’s economic impact.
- 46% — The increase in Chapter 12 farm bankruptcy filings in 2025, according to Farm Aid. farmaid
- About 15,000 — The number of farms that closed nationwide in 2025, according to Farm Aid. farmaid
- More than $90 million — The amount Farm Aid has raised since its founding in 1985 to support its work with family farmers. farmaid
Additional resources
- Farm Aid farmer assistance — Connects farmers with services, resources and opportunities tailored to their needs, including the Farmer Resource Network and Ag Funding Library.
- Farm Aid hotline, 800-327-6243 — Offers help connecting farmers with assistance and support organizations.
- Online request for assistance — Provides another way to contact Farm Aid’s farmer support team.
- Farmer Resource Guides — Compiles information on farm stress, disaster support, legal assistance and other concerns.
