Reliable mail matters to rural residents

For as long as most of us can remember, the U.S. Postal Service has been a lifeline for farm families, bringing seed catalogs, crop insurance checks, correspondence from loved ones, mail-order prescriptions and even this very magazine. That’s why the “Delivering for America” plan, the 10-year overhaul now underway at the USPS, is worth paying attention to—especially for folks in MFA territory.

On paper, the plan is about modernization and financial stability. The USPS has been losing billions of dollars each year—a predicted $6.9 billion in 2025—and “Delivering for America” is purported to stop the bleeding by improving efficiency. But rural communities will likely pay the price.

One of the biggest shifts is “Regional Transportation Optimization.” That sounds harmless until you realize what it means. Small post offices will lose afternoon mail pickups if located more than 50 miles from a USPS regional processing center, many of which have recently been consolidated. For us, those regional processing centers are in St. Louis and Kansas City. That’s it.

In real terms, a letter dropped off Monday afternoon might not be collected until Tuesday. For rural residents who rely on time-sensitive mail delivery, the delay is more than just a nuisance. It’s a risk.

New Postmaster General David Steiner, who was appointed in July, plans to continue the initiative started by his predecessor. Steiner said it “positions the Postal Service to be on the right path.” But concerns about reduced rural service aren’t just speculation. The Postal Regulatory Commission itself has warned that service standards will decline under this plan. Slow or unpredictable mail delivery means rural communities lose timely access to information and connection with each other.

Yes, the USPS needs reform. It must operate sustainably. And yes, “snail mail” can often be replaced by electronic communication. In fact, first-class mail use has dropped 80% since 1997, and volume is the lowest since 1968, according to Reuters.

But balance sheets are not the only measure of success. Mail service to every community—no matter how remote—has always been the Postal Service’s mission. Stripping away that commitment in the name of efficiency betrays that mission.

Farmers understand efficiency, but they also know reliability is non-negotiable. A combine that breaks down in the middle of harvest isn’t “good enough,” and neither is a postal system that shrugs off rural America.

As the plan charges ahead, rural residents should account for the real possibility of service delays, especially when doing business by mail. It’s also important to let your elected officials how much that mailbox means to your family and your farm. 

If the USPS is truly going to “deliver for America,” then it must deliver for all of America—including farmers and rural residents. 

View more articles from this October/November 2025 Today's Farmer magazine.