The Democrat-Led War on Farmers: Crushing Rural America One Regulation at a Time

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In a recent episode of “Behind The Deep State” (Vid is Above) –  on The New American, agriculture expert Charles Rankin sounded the alarm on an escalating assault against small and medium-sized farms and ranches across the United States, particularly in Democrat-controlled states. Rankin, founder of Yanasa.TV and a vocal advocate for traditional farming, described how burdensome regulations, attacks on water rights, and the dismantling of critical infrastructure like dams are systematically undermining family-owned operations. These measures, he warns, are not isolated incidents but part of a broader agenda to control the food supply, limit consumer choices, and push alternatives like lab-grown meat and genetically engineered products. From a conservative perspective, this “war on farmers” represents a deliberate effort by progressive elites in blue states to erode rural independence, consolidate land under corporate or government control, and advance radical environmental policies at the expense of America’s heartland.

This narrative isn’t new, but its intensity has grown under Democrat leadership at the state level. In California, where Democrats dominate the legislature and governor’s office, the war on farmers has manifested through draconian water policies that prioritize urban elites and environmental activists over rural producers. For decades, the state’s wealthy coastal Democrats have weaponized water allocations to target farming communities in the Central Valley, a region that produces a significant portion of the nation’s fruits, nuts, and vegetables. Water destined for these agricultural hubs has been diverted or shut off multiple times, ostensibly to protect endangered species like the delta smelt, but critics argue it’s a strategic move to bankrupt family farms and force land sales to corporate entities or foreign investors.  Continued below this next fast clip

As one observer noted, these policies are a “scorched-earth” tactic aimed at breaking the rural middle class, which tends to vote Republican. By rationing irrigation water, Sacramento’s regime ensures that small citrus, almond, and row-crop operations can’t cover their mortgages, leading to foreclosures. Meanwhile, mega-corporate farms owned by billionaires and foreign funds receive full allocations, allowing them to thrive while family operations wither.

A stark example unfolded in Point Reyes, California, where Democrats recently shut down a dozen multi-generational family farms. Environmental groups, backed by state regulators, imposed gag orders on the affected ranchers, preventing them from rallying community support. The farmers were forced to sign agreements that prohibit livestock like cows on their own land, effectively evicting them from properties their families have worked for generations. This has resulted in the loss of half of Marin County’s dairies and numerous beef ranches, crippling local food production. Conservative voices have decried this as a blatant land grab, where $30 million in taxpayer funds is being used not to support agriculture but to erase rural heritage in favor of “rewilding” initiatives. The gag orders and forced evictions highlight how Democrat policies silence dissent while advancing a agenda that prioritizes vague environmental goals over food security and property rights.  continued below this next clip

I went to the Central Valley to show you the terrible consequences of the Democrats’ War on Farmers. Ripped out trees, fallow fields – when we could be growing the fresh food to Make America Healthy Again. What they’re doing is a crime:

I went to the Central Valley to show you the terrible consequences of the Democrats’ War on Farmers.

Ripped out trees, fallow fields – when we could be growing the fresh food to Make America Healthy Again.

What they’re doing is a crime: pic.twitter.com/Ed5dKq8GPN

— steve hilton (@SteveHiltonx) February 5, 2025

California’s assault extends beyond water to political gerrymandering that dilutes rural voices. Under Democrat-drawn maps, rural farming areas are combined with distant urban centers, reducing their voting power. For instance, proposals link remote ranchlands in Modoc County—spanning over 4 million acres of grazing—with coastal suburbs in Marin and Sonoma counties, over 300 miles away. This shifts representation toward urban priorities, leading to less federal funding for irrigation and greater vulnerability to environmental mandates that restrict land use. Historical data shows a 20-30% drop in rural district cohesion under such maps, exacerbating the challenges for the Central Valley, home to 99% of U.S. almonds and 95% of raisins. Proposition 50, another Democrat-backed measure, could displace up to five agricultural strongholds, further consolidating power in blue enclaves.

Moving north to Oregon, another Democrat stronghold, the war on farmers takes the form of invasive surveillance and overregulation targeting small operations. State lawmakers have rewritten laws to treat backyard farms the same as massive commercial enterprises, requiring water rights permits even for using one’s own well water. Farmers with as little as a half-acre garden or a few animals have received cease-and-desist orders, with the government using satellite imagery to identify and target them. A hotline encourages neighbors to report “violations,” turning communities against each other in a dystopian bid for control. This has effectively banned small-scale chicken, goat, cattle, and dairy operations, as well as vegetable growing, under the guise of water conservation. Conservatives point out the hypocrisy: while small farmers are crushed, large agribusinesses often escape scrutiny. This mirrors European policies that have sparked farmer protests, and critics warn it’s part of a globalist push to limit food independence.

In Pennsylvania, under Democrat Governor Josh Shapiro, conservative farmers have faced outright raids for selling unregulated products like raw milk. An Amish farmer in the state suffered a police raid orchestrated by the agriculture department, drawing backlash from Republicans who see it as an attack on traditional, faith-based communities. The incident underscores how blue-state bureaucrats weaponize minor regulatory infractions to harass rural producers, imposing fines and shutdowns that threaten livelihoods. This isn’t just about food safety; it’s about eroding the independence of conservative-leaning areas, where small farms embody self-reliance and resistance to big government.

Colorado provides yet another example, where Democrat regulators have cracked down on gas-powered equipment as part of a climate crusade. While the ban starts with lawn mowers on state property, it signals a broader push toward electrifying agriculture, which could extend to tractors and other farm machinery. Farmers and ranchers argue this ignores the realities of rural operations, where reliable diesel equipment is essential for vast landscapes. Combined with federal pressures like EPA rules on gas vehicles—opposed by agriculture groups in half the states—these policies inflate costs and reduce efficiency, hitting small producers hardest.  Continued below this next clip

TAKE BACK YOUR FOOD SUPPLY Bill Gates is buying up vast swathes of U.S. farmland. American farmer John Boyd warns: “Start growing your own food, or buy local from independent farmers — if you want to be sure it’s safe to eat.” Control the land, control the food Control the food, control the people The future of freedom starts in the soil Will you plant seeds of independence — or let them own your dinner plate?

🌱 TAKE BACK YOUR FOOD SUPPLY

Bill Gates is buying up vast swathes of U.S. farmland.

American farmer John Boyd warns:

“Start growing your own food, or buy local from independent farmers — if you want to be sure it’s safe to eat.”

Control the land, control the food

Control… pic.twitter.com/kv3l2pzFc1

— Jim Ferguson (@JimFergusonUK) September 22, 2025

These state-level assaults tie into broader Democrat priorities, such as climate policies that impose net-zero mandates and cap-and-trade schemes. In blue states, these have slashed agricultural output by 15% since 2020, per Farm Bureau data, while driving up food prices. Progressive EPA regulations, expanded under Biden, cost farmers $150 billion annually in compliance, strangling small operations through lawfare over minor issues like fencing. Conservatives argue this contempt for the heartland—evident in 70% of rural federal cases tied to political motives—aims to consolidate land under oligarchs who fund Democrat campaigns.

The impacts are profound: family farms closing, food shortages looming, and rural economies crumbling. As Rankin emphasized, individuals must push back to preserve traditional agriculture. Red states like Texas, with lighter regulations, boast twice the farm profitability, proving that limited government fosters prosperity. This war isn’t about the environment—it’s about power, and conservatives are rallying to defend the producers who feed the nation. As usual, Democrats seek control over our lives, and food, and must be stopped to keep America free.