As 2025 comes to an end, just half of farmers in Colorado and across the U.S. are expected to turn a profit, because of a number of issues including higher costs for chemical fertilizers and pesticides, as well as the Trump administration’s efforts to reshape the global economy through tariffs.

But a new report shows how organic farming has quietly become the most reliable path to profitability.

Andrew Smith, chief scientific officer for the Rodale Institute, said organic farms are seeing significantly higher margins than conventional farms and those returns are affecting entire regions.