American farmers say they’re in the midst of a perfect storm of problems. Rising diesel prices, tariffs, low cattle herds, imported beef from foreign countries, and years of drought have the farm economy in a crisis. And over the past year, consumers have felt the pain from more expensive beef at grocery stores. But back in July, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins visited Carroll County. She announced Georgia's U.S.D.A. certified small meat processors could sell across state lines for the first time. But will it be enough to help an industry that saw a 130% jump in bankruptcy filings between 2025 and 2026, plus reports of historically high U.S. farm debt? And how might this impact beef prices? Joining the discussion on “Closer Look with Rose Scott” is Professor Bill Winders at Georgia Tech’s School of History and Sociology, and Wayne Swanson Jr., founder and CEO of Swanson Family Farm.

<p>American farmers say they&rsquo;re in the midst of a perfect storm of problems. Rising diesel prices, tariffs, low cattle herds, imported beef from foreign countries, and years of drought have the farm economy in a crisis. And over the past year, consumers have felt the pain from more expensive beef at grocery stores. But back in July, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins visited Carroll County. She announced Georgia's U.S.D.A. certified small meat processors could sell across state lines for the first time. But will it be enough to help an industry that saw a 130% jump in bankruptcy filings between 2025 and 2026, plus reports of historically high U.S. farm debt? And how might this impact beef prices? Joining the discussion on &ldquo;<a href="https://www.wabe.org/podcasts/closer-look/" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0" data-ogsc="">Closer Look with Rose Scott</a>&rdquo; is Professor <a href="https://hsoc.gatech.edu/people/person/bill-winders" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="1" data-ogsc="">Bill Winders</a> at Georgia Tech&rsquo;s School of History and Sociology, and Wayne Swanson Jr., founder and CEO of <a href="https://swansonfamilyfarmllc.com/" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="2" data-ogsc="">Swanson Family Farm</a>.</p>

"Closer Look with Rose Scott" brings you the issues that impact where we live, how we interact, and how we can all thrive. It’s not just about Atlanta; it’s a program for Atlanta. Rose connects with community leaders, CEOs, policymakers, and people who don't often get a platform, and she brings you in on the conversation.

<p>"Closer Look with Rose Scott" brings you the issues that impact where we live, how we interact, and how we can all thrive. It’s not just about Atlanta; it’s a program for Atlanta. Rose connects with community leaders, CEOs, policymakers, and people who don't often get a platform, and she brings you in on the conversation.</p>