'Tidal wave of problems': With harvest here, Trump's trade war pushes some US farmers to the brink
Source: CNN Politics
PUBLISHED Sep 20, 2025, 6:30 AM ET
Farmers across the country are issuing increasingly urgent warnings that theyll face grim consequences if they dont get help selling this years bumper crop that many have begun harvesting. Trade deals many had hoped would quickly emerge after President Donald Trump slapped tariffs on some of the United States biggest agricultural customers havent come. A farm bailout is no sure thing on Capitol Hill. And farmers many of whom voted for Trump say time is running out.
It just seems like things have stalled all summer long, said Brian Warpup, who grows corn and soybeans on his 3,900-acre farm in northeastern Indiana. Were always hopeful that those negotiations are moving forward, but yet with harvest here, patience may be running thin. Across the US, farmers describe increasingly dire circumstances stemming from a confluence of factors trade wars, Trumps immigration crackdown, inflation and high interest rates.
Though the challenges vary in different parts of the country, farmers in some cases, particularly on the West Coast, are struggling to find labor to pick their harvest. Others, especially in the Midwest, said they cant sell what theyve produced. And many are scrambling to find storage.
Its led to pressures reminiscent of the trade wars from Trumps first administration, when the federal government spent billions on bailouts to farmers. The worlds biggest soybean buyer, China, is so far this year refusing to purchase American soybeans a critical export that the US Department of Agriculture said was worth nearly $25 billion last year turning instead to Brazil as part of Beijings response to the tariffs Trump imposed on Chinese goods in February.
Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2025/09/20/politics/us-farmers-trump-tariffs-dire-consequences
The MAGat farmers collectively and boastfully insisted - "Just give him time". Nothing like exposing the breathtaking cognitive dissonance.

Gimpyknee
(633 posts)Maybe not this time around. Trump no longer needs their support. No sympathy here.
llmart
(16,834 posts)such suckers and losers. (That's what trump probably thinks of them for falling for his constant bull shit.)
Mr.WeRP
(946 posts)For tariffs with higher prices at the stores and them their taxes are going to pay for the repercussions of the tariffs. This is so fucked up.
Cirsium
(2,878 posts)The subsidies to agriculture are for the benefit of the general public: Cooperative Extension, the Land Grant colleges, the USDA, state ag agencies, Farm Credit, etc.
Trump never needed their support, since they do not represent a large enough voting bloc to matter.
Buddyzbuddy
(1,496 posts)Republicans, Making America Great Again.
Tetrachloride
(8,988 posts)I remember when there were canning factories in most small rural towns in my Midwest area. I worked for the canning factories a few summers.
Good weather in my area means that corn and soybean crops are being harvested.
the talk in my coffee shop is either real estate, sports or retirement issues.
-- sorry for falling off topic --
I'd like to know more about macro-economics as it pertains to agriculture.
kerouac2
(1,285 posts)Plus cuts to snap aren't going to help them sell their food either.
Fools.
And yet I can predict they will blame Biden and the Dems.
BaronChocula
(3,345 posts)where the child molester does a 180 after a couple 360s.
Part of me hopes not. Some pain may bring a little smarts to those who need it, if only briefly.
perdita9
(1,305 posts)I really don't want my tax dollars used to bail out this demographic again. As painful as it is, they need to learn to vote their interests, not their bigotry
republianmushroom
(21,415 posts)Trueblue Texan
(3,766 posts)WE FUCKING TOLD YOU SO!!!
IndyPepper
(49 posts)The fact that these farmers are still taking anything Trump does or says seriously, as if he is a serious actor who just needs time to make everything work out, continues to amaze me. They're either seriously deluded or they just can't bring themselves to admit they've been scammed. They should have baled on him after his first term, but now they're literally reaping what they have sown.
Someone else mentioned the scarcity of lettuce. I'm finding the same thing in the Indianapolis area ... even after the price jumped 10-20 percent. Using Trump Math, a 20 percent increase in something that is no longer available must mean that inflation is down 1,500 percent. True genius. /s
NewEnglandAutumn
(240 posts)My heart bleeds
NBachers
(18,897 posts)Mysterian
(5,929 posts)just so they can borrow trillions from China and other countries to line the pockets of billionaires and give handouts to supporters. For sure the farmers will get a giant handout from the taxpayers, but please call it "subsidies" not welfare and definitely don't call it socialism!
taxi
(2,506 posts)Haven't we been saying that all along? Just give him time. Prison time.
Aristus
(70,895 posts)Or to put it another way, Fuck Around & Find Out.
I would love to know how many of these hayseeds voted for Trump "just to shake things up". I wonder how shaken they feel right now. Anyway, fuck 'em. Quit crying and just grow the food.
ToxMarz
(2,564 posts)Seriously, you haven't been paying attention or are delusional. Right, a MAGAt, you're delusional. They've gotten frameworks of frameworks from all their 'negotiations' so far. The average U.S. trade deal takes around 18 months to reach an agreement and over two years to implement from a competent administration, and here we're talking about 90 seperate trade deals by corrupt imbecile posers (in 90 days they said )
At least maybe they'll let you keep the red hat.
Ksout
(19 posts)I wonder who is slated to cash in on the plan to bankrupt farmers so they will sell their land to foreign investors or land monopolizers who will control the power as to who will and will not eat.
EarthFirst
(3,821 posts)Plot twist: it isnt the bailout farmers were anticipating
IbogaProject
(4,989 posts)I am so angry at the farmers choosing to support billionaires instead of their consumers the people of thos nation.