With the new administration now in office, all of agriculture is keeping a close eye on the potential for new tariffs and the ripple effects that could result for farmers and the supply chain as a whole.
Virginia Houston with the American Soybean Association spoke with RFD-TV’s own Suzanne Alexander on what we have learned from President Trump’s previous tariffs, the impact of tariffs on Mexico and Canada, and what consumers and producers should keep an eye on.
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While the agriculture industry hoped details on proposed “bridge” payments for farmers would be released this week, Ag Secretary Brook Rollins said the USDA is still working with the White House on the finer points.
China’s renewed purchases signal improving sorghum demand at a time when export markets are otherwise uneven. Meanwhile, agriculture groups across the U.S, Canada, and Mexico want to protect close trade relations.
Pressure on grain storage capacity and stronger export positioning are pushing more grain onto railroads, highways, and river systems as logistics become a key bottleneck this fall.
The Cotton-4 are pushing hard for new value chain investments. Still, many U.S. cotton producers face unsustainable losses, and weakened regional textile capacity threatens the survival of the Carolina “dirt-to-shirt” supply chain.
Despite the need for swift action, many ag lawmakers and industry groups argue that farm aid alone will likely not be sufficient to help farmers without improved trade relations with China.