The American Farm

As spring arrives, hard-working family farms across the United States gamble everything they have, fighting to stay in business, and stay together. The real-life struggle of men and women who put food on our tables begins each year by going deep in debt on new land, equipment and livestock.

Family farms across the United States race to prepare their fields and plant their crops; one family operation faces the worst drought in decades, while another family gets a scare that puts their lives in perspective.

It is the last chance for family farms to put seed in the ground before the planting window closes; a farmer and his wife reconcile to finish planting, while another leaves his fields at a crucial time.

With the crops in the ground and hundreds of thousands of dollars on the line, farmers must protect their investment and fight back when their fields are threatened by a variety of pests.

In mid-summer, winter wheat is ready to harvest, and it's the year's first opportunity for a pay-day and a chance to break out their combines. Stress is at an all-time high as they begin to harvest crops that will help carry them out or dig them deeper into debt.

As September arrives, and fall harvest begins, two farms face life or death struggles with their livestock, while a third races to get their crop harvested and help a neighbor in trouble.

Harvest season hits high gear, and judgement day arrives for some of the year's biggest gambles. As bank payments loom and legacies are at stake, one bad harvest could spell disaster.

As fall draws to a close, the last harvests are do or die for these family businesses. Farmers have put everything on the line to stay afloat, and set themselves up for the future, but will it be enough?