Donald Trump’s second term as president is testing the loyalty of farmers who have consistently supported him in the past. Recent policies, including tariffs on agricultural products, visa restrictions on farm workers, and reduced farm subsidies, are hitting farmers hard.
In the 2018-19 trade war with China, farmers in Trump-voting counties continued to plant soybeans despite economic losses due to higher costs and lower profits. However, this time around, the effects of these policies are broader and more severe. The revived US-China trade conflict has led to a significant decline in soybean exports to China, leaving US producers with shrinking overseas demand for their crops.
Additionally, farms are struggling to find workers due to tougher immigration enforcement and slower visa processing. This is leading to higher costs for farmers, as they must pay the adverse effect wage rate for H-2A guest worker program participants, which is more than twice the regular federal minimum wage.
The US Treasury’s recent policy change has also frozen billions in rural investment in renewable energy projects, leaving many family farms without a vital income stream. This move highlights an irony at the heart of Trump’s message: The administration that promises to protect the heartland is dismantling clean energy investments that were helping it diversify.
While cultural identity still plays a significant role in farmers’ loyalty to Trump, strain is visible as farmers struggle with shrinking federal backing, tighter labor laws, and competitor countries like Argentina receiving support from the US government. Farm groups are quietly pressing for pragmatic trade policy and visa reform, and several Republican governors are lobbying for labor flexibility instead of tougher enforcement.
The second term’s policies may signal a deeper shift in rural support for Trump, as farmers’ faith is tested by these economic challenges. While loyalty may not disappear suddenly, the strain on farmers’ wallets and livelihoods may eventually wear down their resolve.
Source: https://www.mississippifreepress.org/opinion-how-farmers-are-bearing-the-costs-of-trumps-policies