Letter to the editor: Trump and our poor farmers

First published in the Brunswick Beacon, 10.23.25

Trump failed American farmers. Deportations led to unharvested crops because 65% of farm workers are migrants. Trump supporter Joe Rogan called Trump’s deportation policy “insane.”

Blake Hurst, former president of the Missouri Farm Bureau, called Trump’s tariffs “a complete bust.” Last growing season, China bought 50% of America’s soybean exports for $12.6 billion. This season: zero. American Soybean Association president Cabel Ragland said, “Because of tariffs, farmers are struggling with high fertilizer and equipment costs. Our largest export market, China, is a zero buyer. We are bleeding economically.”

Farm bankruptcies are soaring. “We call it ‘Farmageddon,’” said Joe Jennings of Daitaas Holdings, a farm technology company. Ragland called it “a five-alarm fire.”

Trump fanned the flames when he gave Argentina $20 billion because its president, Trump said, “loves me.” Trump’s Agriculture Secretary fumed: “We bailed out Argentina. In return, they removed tariffs on grains, reducing their price, and sold a bunch of soybeans to China. This gives China more leverage on us.” Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) was incensed: “Why would USA bail out Argentina while they take American soybean producers’ biggest market???” Trump got played, American farmers paid.

NC is especially hard-hit due to its integrated supply chain of soy-fed pork and poultry. We also lead the nation in tobacco exports. N.C. Agribusiness Council President Jeffrey Lee reports China canceled all tobacco contracts because of Trump’s tariffs. Last year, we exported $5.9 billion in goods to China. Thanks to Trump, NC can kiss that goodbye.

Trump’s 2018 tariffs cost you $28 billion in farm bailouts. Republicans say this bailout could cost $50 billion! Ragland said even that is just “a Band-Aid on an open wound. Government payments never make farmers whole. We need markets so we can make a profit and recoup the large investment farmers made. We need to not punch our customers in the face with tariffs.”

Bailouts throw self-reliant American farmers onto welfare. Bailouts aren’t a solution; they’re Trump’s admission of failure.

Nancy Briganti

Carolina Shores