Overview
- Marc Short wrote an opinion piece arguing that President Trump’s trade policies have severely damaged U.S. farmers and eroded the party’s rural support.
- The farming sector has faced large losses and closures, including a cited $34.6 billion in losses last year and reports of thousands of farms shutting down.
- Exports have fallen sharply, with China and other buyers cutting purchases and months passing without U.S. soybean sales to that market, reducing farm revenue.
- About 70 percent of farmers report they cannot afford all needed fertilizer as input costs and fuel prices have spiked, and bankruptcy filings have surged.
- Republicans are responding politically: the party’s top Senate super PAC has poured large sums into Ohio, Iowa, and North Carolina while the White House has announced $12 billion in one‑time farmer relief that analysts say is inadequate.