Trump Is Crushing Farmers in The US
Farming has always been a gamble, says Sam Watson, a farmer in southern Georgia. Each year requires millions of dollars in investment, yet drought or disease can wipe out profits instantly. Today, however, he believes the risks are even worse than in his father’s time. “We used to pray for rain,” he says. “Now we’re praying on geopolitics.”
In his second term, Donald Trump has waged both a trade war and a real war with Iran—two conflicts that have hit American farmers especially hard. Tariffs imposed on other countries triggered retaliation, and few sectors suffered more than agriculture. At the same time, the unresolved conflict in Iran and disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz have pushed costs even higher.
Even before Trump took office, farmers were struggling with rising costs. Over five years, land prices rose by 6%, seeds by 18%, labour by 50%, and interest expenses by 73%. Tariffs worsened the situation by driving up the cost of steel, aluminium, and farm machinery. John Deere reported absorbing $600m in tariff-related costs in 2025 alone. Some farmers now say they need four times as much land to earn the same profit, while starting a farm can cost around $500,000 upfront.
Retaliation from other countries, especially China, has compounded the damage. China sharply reduced purchases of American soybeans and cotton, with soybean exports to China falling from 5.9m tonnes to zero in one year. Tariffs have effectively raised prices for overseas buyers, making American agricultural products less competitive. By mid-2025, agricultural prices had risen by around 10%, but this has not been enough to offset higher costs.
The war in Iran has added further strain. Farmers depend heavily on diesel, the price of which has jumped by 40% to about $5.40 per gallon. Since agriculture consumes large volumes of fuel, even small increases quickly erode already thin margins. Fertiliser costs have also surged, as about a third of global supply passes through the Strait of Hormuz. Cutting fertiliser use risks reducing yields, leaving farmers trapped.
On the revenue side, crop prices have barely moved in years. Some farmers expect to sell produce at the same price as a decade ago. As a result, the numbers no longer add up: farm bankruptcies rose by 46% in 2025. Many farmers are no longer aiming for profits but simply trying to survive, with breaking even considered a success. In severe cases, financial stress has contributed to suicides, reflected in rising flows of used equipment from affected farms.
The impact extends beyond farms themselves. Although only about 6% of rural Americans work directly in agriculture, farmers support a broader local economy, including banks, car dealerships, and food processors. When farmers suffer, entire communities are affected. In some towns, restaurants that were once full now sit nearly empty, and families struggle with basic expenses.
Despite these hardships, many rural Americans continue to support Trump. His approval ratings remain highest among rural voters, many of whom believe he is doing a good job. Farmers often say they trust the administration, even while acknowledging they need help to recover losses caused by its policies. Industry groups are pushing for government support, including subsidies that could nearly double by 2027, though many farmers say they do not want handouts—even if they feel compelled to accept them.
Economic hardship is nothing new in rural America, but there remains a sense of resilience. Still, some farmers are unsure whether it makes sense to plant another crop next year. Yet they continue, cutting costs, downsizing equipment, and working relentlessly to preserve their way of life. As Watson puts it, farming is addictive: “It’s not good for you, but it gets in your blood.”
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