Sen. Roger Marshall takes a deep dive on interest rates, tariffs, and MAHA initiative

The cost of doing business is taking a toll on many family farms today. New legislation is aiming to better support the rural economy by lowering interest rates and making loans more accessible for farmers and ag borrowers.

Senator Roger Marshall, one of the co-leaders, joined RFD-TV’s Jennifer Vickery Smith to discuss what the act aims to do, the need for the legislation as farmers cope with current economic factors, growing pains with tariffs, and the Make America Healthy Again initiative.

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Lawmakers are pressing for answers on how Washington’s “managed trade” approach — keeping leverage through long-term tariffs — will affect farmers, global markets, and future export opportunities.
In the meantime, Senate Majority Leader John Thune is asking that farmers be allowed to use marketing assistance loans to help stay afloat.
Beef industry groups seem to agree — market-based pricing, not federal intervention, best supports rancher livelihoods and long-term beef supply stability.
Cattle groups say additional imports would offer little relief for consumers but could erode rancher confidence as the industry begins to rebuild herds.
Understanding how these tax provisions interact will be key for farmers planning long-term equipment purchases or transfers within the family.
The government shutdown has touched nearly every sector of the ag industry since it began, and now impacts are spilling over into dairy.

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