Farmers across the U.S. are reacting with a blend of concern, confusion, and cautious optimism as former President Trump ramps up a new round of aggressive trade tariffs. The impact of these policies is hitting rural communities especially hard – none more so than the soybean-producing regions of Iowa, North Dakota, and North Carolina. While some view the tariffs as necessary bargaining chips in a global game of economic chess, others worry they’re the tipping point that could shutter family farms already stretched thin.
At a town hall in Iowa, Senator Chuck Grassley attempted to explain both the risks and potential benefits of the tariffs. When asked directly how they might affect cattle ranchers like one attendee’s son, Grassley responded with measured hesitation. “It’s too early to make a judgment,” he said, noting that the tariffs could result in new market access, such as the opportunity to export beef to Australia – but he also admitted that history shows foreign countries often retaliate against U.S. agriculture in trade disputes.
China Fights Back, Soybeans Take the Hit
Nowhere is the tension felt more deeply than in Iowa’s soybean fields. According to a report by Feven Zewdu for Iowa’s News Now, China has retaliated against the U.S. with a 125% tariff on American goods, directly targeting soybeans – a commodity that once made up over half of U.S. agricultural exports to China.
Caleb Ragland of the American Soybean Association underscored the critical nature of this relationship: “China takes more of our soybeans than all other foreign customers combined,” he said. Without that market, American soybean farmers are left holding billions of dollars’ worth of crops with nowhere to go.
Lifelong Iowa farmer Trent Kuhn voiced what many in his shoes are feeling. “These are real, real impactful tariffs,” he said. “We need China to come to the table.” He fears that not only are U.S. farmers losing their number-one buyer, but they’re falling behind other nations in global soybean production.
North Dakota Feels the Trade Tension Too
Similar concerns are brewing in North Dakota. Emmeline Ivy of KFYR-TV spoke with Justin Sherlock, President of the North Dakota Soybean Growers Association, who explained that half of the state’s soybeans are exported – primarily to China. Sherlock painted a picture of cascading economic consequences if those exports dry up: fewer upgrades to farm equipment, less spending in local stores, and stalled community projects like Dazey’s planned volunteer fire hall.
Sherlock warned that unresolved trade disputes could mean North Dakota soybeans won’t have a major buyer next year. The Association is scrambling to diversify markets, but Sherlock admitted that process will take years.
Mixed Reactions in North Carolina: Loyalty vs. Livelihood
MSNBC’s Alex Wagner traveled to Johnston County, North Carolina, to sit down with a group of farmers who all proudly voted for Trump – twice in many cases. Their feelings on the new tariffs? Mixed, to say the least.
Brandon Batton, a diversified farmer from Four Oaks, said the uncertainty was tough: “We’re kind of locked in,” he said, referencing the commitments farmers make early in the year. With crops already planted, changing course now is almost impossible. Others, like Michelle Pace Davis of Clayton, voiced fears that the fall harvest might arrive without buyers.
Yet despite this economic turbulence, many at the table still backed Trump. “We’ve got to be sending stuff on boats going across the seas,” said another. “But I’d still rather face this trade war than a Category 5 hurricane.”
The Economics of Faith
A theme that surfaced repeatedly among Southern farmers was faith – both in a higher power and in Trump’s long-term vision. “We’re eternal optimists,” one farmer told Wagner. “It may not be pretty, but it’s going to be all right.” This attitude has long sustained generational farms through droughts, floods, and market collapses, and many hope it will carry them through the uncertainty of tariffs as well.
Still, this optimism is tempered with realism. “The last time Trump was in office, he helped bridge the gap with a financial aid package,” one woman recalled. “We’ll probably need that again.”
Senator Grassley Pushes to Restore Congressional Oversight
Back in Iowa, Senator Grassley has introduced the Trade With You Act of 2025, which would restore congressional authority over tariff decisions. At the town hall, he made it clear that the bill is meant to be forward-looking, not a rebuke of past actions. However, Grassley’s underlying point was unmistakable: no single president should wield unchecked power over trade policy.
“We gave that power away in 1963 and 1974,” he said, “and now I want to get it back.” His push reflects growing concern, even among Republicans, that tariff decisions are too consequential to be made unilaterally.
“We Just Don’t Know”: The Market Limbo
Uncertainty reigns supreme in agriculture, but trade wars take that uncertainty to another level. As the North Carolina farmers explained, all their costs – seed, fertilizer, labor – come upfront. They won’t know what kind of price they’ll get for their crops until months later. “We can’t just go to the grain elevator and demand $5 a bushel,” one said. “That’s not how it works.”
Their frustration is compounded by regulatory burdens and consumer expectations. “We meet the demands for sustainable, ethical farming,” another said, “but the consumer just wants the cheapest price.” That disconnect may be more damaging in the long term than any single policy.
The Global Economy Is Not Just a Talking Point
Whether farmers grow soybeans in Iowa, raise cattle in Alabama, or harvest watermelons in North Carolina, they all seem to agree on one thing: we’re in a global economy now. One North Carolina farmer put it plainly: “There’s no way we’re making socks and jeans in America for cheaper than they do overseas.”
This global dynamic means American farmers depend on foreign buyers. When those relationships are disrupted – even for strategic reasons – it sends shockwaves across an entire industry. The tariffs may be intended as a show of strength, but for many farmers, they feel like a gamble with high stakes.
“We’re Losing Good Farmers”
One of the most heartbreaking admissions came near the end of Wagner’s conversation in North Carolina. When asked if all the farms around today would still be here by year’s end, the answer came quickly: “No. They’re going out left and right.” The blunt truth is that even good farmers – smart, hard-working, experienced – can’t always survive economic headwinds outside their control.
Whether it’s tariffs, weather, or rising input costs, family farms are being forced to fold. That loss isn’t just economic – it’s cultural. These aren’t just businesses; they’re legacies.
The Long-Term Gain Is Still Unclear
Throughout every interview and report, one phrase kept coming up: “short-term pain for long-term gain.” But as one farmer asked, “Where’s the gain?” Many went through the last trade war believing in its promise, but they feel the results were mixed at best.
Some farmers say they’re willing to endure the pain again – if it leads to a stronger bargaining position. Others just want to sell their crops without political interference. The gap between these two groups isn’t necessarily political – it’s practical. They all want to survive.
Tariffs May Be a Strategy, But They’re Also a Burden
From my point of view, the frustration among farmers is justified. Trade wars are not new, but the current scale and speed of Trump’s tariffs have placed family farms in a precarious position. While large agribusinesses may be able to absorb the shock, smaller producers can’t. This isn’t just about politics – it’s about livelihoods. If our rural economy is sacrificed in the name of leverage, it’s hard to call that a win.
What stands out is that despite their loyalty to Trump, many farmers want one thing above all else: stability. Not bailouts, not slogans – just a market they can count on. And right now, many of them don’t have that.
Uncertainty on the Front Lines of the Trade War
As the planting season begins and fall harvests loom, America’s farmers remain on the front lines of a trade war with uncertain outcomes. Whether it’s Senator Grassley fighting to rein in presidential authority, or Trent Kuhn waiting for China to “come to the table,” one thing is clear – tariffs may be tools for negotiation, but they come with real-world consequences.
For now, these farmers keep doing what they’ve always done: planting, praying, and hoping that the policies made far above their heads don’t put them out of business.
Mark grew up in the heart of Texas, where tornadoes and extreme weather were a part of life. His early experiences sparked a fascination with emergency preparedness and homesteading. A father of three, Mark is dedicated to teaching families how to be self-sufficient, with a focus on food storage, DIY projects, and energy independence. His writing empowers everyday people to take small steps toward greater self-reliance without feeling overwhelmed.