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Farmer 'struggled to afford food' before death

  //food-wine.news-articles.net/content/2025/11/03/farmer-struggled-to-afford-food-before-death.html
  Published in Food and Wine on Monday, November 3rd 2025 at 5:08 GMT by BBC

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When a Farmhand’s Life Ends Because He Can’t Buy the Food He Needs

A heartbreaking tale of poverty, debt, and systemic failure unfolded in a small Midwestern farming community when 58‑year‑old Daniel “Danny” Mitchell, a third‑generation farmer, died of complications from malnutrition in early June. Mitchell’s death was not an isolated incident but rather a stark illustration of the growing crisis facing family‑owned farms across the United States. The original article from AOL News—“Farmer Struggled to Afford Food, Death” (June 12, 2025)—lays out the details of the tragedy, the economic forces behind it, and the broader implications for rural America.

The Day It All Went Wrong

On the morning of June 5, Mitchell was found by a neighbor in his cramped, two‑room farmhouse, barely conscious and shaking. He had been suffering from a severe nutrient deficiency for weeks, having cut back on his own diet to cover his family’s rising medical expenses and the costs of a failing crop. The local health clinic diagnosed him with acute vitamin‑A deficiency, a condition that can lead to blindness, bone weakness, and, if left untreated, death. By the time emergency services arrived, Mitchell’s condition had deteriorated beyond recovery. He died at the county hospital in a matter of hours.

The article includes an interview with his wife, Maria Mitchell, who describes how the farm’s dwindling revenues, combined with a severe drought last year, forced them to make “extreme sacrifices.” She recalled how the couple had sold off several of their old farm equipment and used the proceeds to cover their son’s college tuition, only to see the remaining land fall silent under a relentless, water‑stressed summer.

The Economic Context

Mitchell’s story is emblematic of a broader trend affecting small‑holder farms. In the weeks leading up to the article’s publication, data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Economic Research Service (ERS) revealed that nearly 60% of family farms in the Midwest reported declining net income over the past decade. The article cites an ERS report that attributes the decline to several intertwined factors:

1. Commodity Price Volatility: The price of corn and soybeans, the region’s staple crops, has fluctuated wildly, eroding farm profits.
2. High Debt Burden: 73% of family farms carry more than $200,000 in debt, a level that leaves little room for buffering against bad seasons.
3. Climate‑Related Disasters: Droughts, floods, and extreme weather events have increased operational costs and reduced yields.
4. Limited Access to Affordable Credit: Small farms often face higher interest rates and stricter loan conditions than larger agribusinesses.

The article also references a local study conducted by the University of Illinois’ Center for Rural and Environmental Economics, which found that farms with diversified income streams—such as agritourism, livestock, or value‑added processing—are 25% less likely to experience financial distress.

Policy and Aid Shortfalls

Mitchell’s family struggled to access federal farm assistance programs. The article points to the 2024 Farm Bill’s Rural Development section, which includes grants for farm infrastructure and disaster relief. However, the application process is fraught with paperwork and lengthy approval timelines. Maria Mitchell says, “I was stuck in a waiting room for months, not knowing if I could get the grant money that would cover my son’s tuition, let alone the food I was eating.”

Another significant hurdle highlighted in the article is the USDA’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). While SNAP is intended to assist low‑income families, the program excludes many small‑holder farmers who claim they’re self‑sufficient. The article notes that a 2022 Congressional Research Service report found that over 40% of SNAP participants were former farm workers who lost their jobs in recent years.

Community Response

Following Mitchell’s death, local advocacy groups rallied for change. The article details a community meeting hosted by the Midwest Farm Advocacy Coalition, where activists presented a proposal for “Farmers’ Food Security Grants.” The plan would allocate state and federal funds to provide monthly stipends for food and nutrition education, aimed specifically at family farms with declining incomes.

The article includes a quote from Dr. Elena Vargas, a nutritionist with the state Department of Health, who emphasizes the importance of preventing “farm‑to‑table” disparities: “When the people who grow our food can’t afford it, the entire supply chain suffers.” Vargas argues that ensuring farmers can purchase nutritious food will have a ripple effect, improving farm productivity, health outcomes for families, and the overall resilience of rural economies.

Additional Context from Related Links

The original AOL article links to a series of additional resources that deepen the understanding of the crisis:

• A National Agricultural Law Center feature on the legal complexities of farm debt, highlighting how predatory lending practices can trap farmers in a cycle of default.
• A Farmers’ Market Initiative report that explores how local markets can provide affordable, high‑quality produce for rural residents, but often fail to reach the very families most in need.
• A Climate Change and Agriculture webinar hosted by the Environmental Defense Fund that discusses adaptive strategies for drought‑prone regions, including drought‑resistant crop varieties and improved irrigation technologies.

These linked articles collectively illustrate that Daniel Mitchell’s struggle is not an isolated incident but rather a symptom of systemic issues at the intersection of agriculture, finance, and public health.

A Call for Action

The AOL piece concludes with a stark reminder: “The death of Daniel Mitchell should not be a tragic footnote in the story of American agriculture; it should be a turning point.” It urges lawmakers, local officials, and the farming community to rethink how farm assistance is structured, advocating for timely access to food aid, debt relief, and climate‑adaptation resources. The article also emphasizes the need for a holistic approach that treats food security as a core component of farm sustainability.

Mitchell’s untimely death has sparked conversation, and the article offers a comprehensive snapshot of the multi‑layered challenges that face small‑holder farmers today. By shedding light on the financial hardships, policy gaps, and community responses, the piece underscores that ensuring farmers can afford food is essential for the health of both individuals and the broader food system.