Farmers Will Pay For Tariffs: U.S. barley industry braces trade war ripple effects

U.S. barley farmers fear tariffs could take away key export markets. The industry has already been facing tight margins.

Beer drinking levels in the U.S. are at the lowest in 40 years. Barley farmer and Vice President of the Montana Grain Growers Association, Steve Sheffels says that farmers will ultimately pay for tariffs.

He says that the U.S. grows way more barley than can be consumed domestically and if key markets like Canada and Mexico disappear, farmers will be competing for a much more limited number of buyers.

Related Stories
Let’s take a look at harvest progress as of early September 2025, across all 50 U.S. States, prepared by Market Day Report anchor and RFD-TV Markets Expert Tony St. James.
Experts estimate the flooding from Hurricane Helene caused more than $1.3 billion in damage to Tennessee agriculture.
Pressure to lower gas prices across the Golden State could be the saving grace of this year’s corn harvest. California may soon be the final U.S. state to approve E-15 sales.
Both Congressional Ag Committees took up the bill over the summer, but there’s no word on when the Senate could move forward; it does expire on September 30.