The tariff back-and-forth is clouding the future grain markets, analysts warn

The White House tariff plan appears to be back on track for now, but CoBank warns that all this back-and-forth is clouding the future grain markets.

Analysts there say a lack of clarity around tariffs is already pulling down new crop sales, and in some cases, will be below historical averages. CoBank warns that the longer it goes on, the harder it will be for export-reliant elevators.

Ag Senator Tammy Baldwin is also weighing in. She says the events in recent weeks have caused big issues for farmers in her state.

“Export markets are in question. One of our discussions was how incredibly efficient we have become in growing things like corn and soybeans. We now, in Wisconsin and across the country, produce more than we need for on-farm use and sale in local markets, and so an increasing share goes into export markets, but that becomes a big question mark when there are uncertain tariffs threatened or imposed.”

Not all parts of the President’s tariff plan have been called into question by the courts. The added duties on cars, steel, and aluminum have been held in place since they were enacted.

Related Stories
The three-point plan was announced during remarks at the annual meeting of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture.
Higher tariffs may shield some U.S. crops but risk retaliation, lost markets, and higher costs for growers. The WTO disputes highlight the fragile balance between trade policy, farm exports, and input supply chains.
Producers and processors should watch trade policy closely as tariff impacts ripple through seafood markets.
Farmers await concrete trade commitments from China. Until then, export prospects for soybeans, corn, and sorghum remain uncertain against strong South American competition.
U.S. trade talks with China resume, but meat industry leaders say dealing with shifting demand and market uncertainty is nothing new in this side of the ag sector.
Tariffs are pushing up input costs, with fertilizer prices rising $100 per ton and machinery costs climbing due to steel and parts duties.
As the White House works to close the trade gap, patience is wearing thin for some lawmakers. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) says farmers are getting backed into a corner.
RealAg Radio host Sean Haney joins us for a Canadian perspective on President Trump’s controversial tariff rollout, lower court rulings, and upcoming review by the U.S. Supreme Court.
Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins will travel to Europe and Asia to seek new trade partnerships for U.S. crops after China reduced imports due to tariffs.