Why was the crop lien system bed for small farmers?

The crop lien system was detrimental for small farmers because it often trapped them in a cycle of debt. Farmers would take loans from merchants to buy supplies and were required to use their future crops as collateral. If crop yields were poor or prices fell, they struggled to repay their debts, leading to further borrowing and financial instability. This system effectively limited their economic independence and entrenched poverty in rural areas.