Farm groups express mixed reaction to Trump tariff announcement

The nation's largest farm groups — the American Farm Bureau Federation and National Farmers Union — have urged the Trump administration to quickly resolve trade disputes for the sake of farmers, ranchers and consumers after President Donald Trump announced broad reciprocal tariffs on trading partners on April 2. But some farm groups are optimistic that the administration's trade moves will reduce trade barriers.

American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall in a statement said that while his organization shares the administration's goal of "leveling the playing field" in trade, they are concerned tariffs will threaten farmers already struggling due to the poor farm economy . He pointed out that 20% of farm income comes from exports and that inputs like fertilizer often come from other countries.

“Tariffs will drive up the cost of critical supplies, and retaliatory tariffs will make American-grown products more expensive globally. The combination not only threatens farmers’ competitiveness in the short-term, but it may cause long-term damage by leading to losses in market share," he said.

National Farmers Union President Rob Larew in a statement said farmers and ranchers "will bear the brunt of this global trade war" and that Trump's tariffs "create instability at the expense of our family farmers," while also hurting the food system

“Without meaningful support and a commitment to fair trade policies, we will lose even more family farms, weaken rural economies, and ultimately drive up costs and limit choices for consumers at the grocery store," he said.

AFBF and NFU were among 18 agricultural organizations that in a letter on Tuesday, April 1, urged the Trump administration to "quickly resolve these disputes to mitigate longlasting negative impacts to American agriculture" and "to achieve trade agreements that remove barriers, tariff and non-tariff, and expand market access for U.S. agriculture."

Also signing the letter were a variety of agribusiness groups, the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture and a variety of commodity groups, including the American Soybean Association, the National Association of Wheat Growers, National Corn Growers Association and National Pork Producers Council.

However, not all ag groups are opposed to tariffs. Leaders of the National Milk Producers Federation — which was included as a signer of the April 2 letter under the misnomer National Milk Producers Association — and U.S. Dairy Export Council issued statements expressing optimism that the tariffs might eliminate long-time trade barriers that have hurt exports to European Union countries, India and Canada.

"We encourage the administration to work swiftly with these constructive partners to negotiate new trading terms that expand opportunities for U.S. exports and secure the elimination of both tariff and non-tariff barriers,” said Krysta Harden, president and CEO of the U.S. Dairy Export Council, in a statement.

R-CALF USA, representing independent cattle and sheep producers, applauded the tariffs. The organization expressed optimism that the tariffs will reduce the practice of cattle and sheep imports in to the U.S. The group also is in favor of tariff-rate quota systems, which are limits set on the volume of imported beef or lamb that can enter the U.S. market.

“Both our cattle and sheep industries need ‘space’ from the downward price pressure of cheaper imports to incentivize domestic herd expansions, investments in feedlots and packing facilities, and to attract new entrants into the industry,” said R-CALF USA CEO Bill Bullard in a statement.

Some members of Congress also have responded to the tariffs. U.S. Rep. Julie Fedorchak, R-N.D., said she supports Trump's efforts to "create a level playing field" after "decades of unfair trade barriers," but she also recognized the potential harm to North Dakota's farmers.

"I will continue to advocate for expanding market opportunities for our products as well as other policies to help counter the negative impacts tariffs may create for producers," she said in a statement.

U.S. Rep. Angie Craig, D-Minn., the ranking member of the House Agriculture Committee, was more critical of the tariffs and referred to the market loss during the trade war in the first Trump administration.

“Increasing input costs, shutting farmers out of export markets and causing middle-class families to pay more at the grocery store is not a winning strategy," she said. "The tariffs announced today are broader than in 2018 and come as farmers struggle with widespread uncertainty. The losses from this trade war will force farms to close,” she said in a statement.