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.
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Read the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s official press release published on Monday, December 8, 2025.