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
“We lost 150,000 farmers and farms in the last four years, a disaster that nobody’s talking about.”
“Farmers want to feed people. They want to keep farming. They’re counting on Congress to live up to its obligations.”
“It keeps the land in ag production and provides our retiring farmers with a viable retirement option.”