Farmers on the Brink: Climate Chaos, Tariffs, and the Struggle to Survive
Seventh-generation farmer Brian Harbage isn’t just working a small family plot—he grows corn, soybeans, grass, and manages a cattle operation that spans across five counties in western Ohio. By any measure, his livelihood is a large-scale agricultural business.
But despite his experience and deep roots in farming, the past two years have been a brutal test. Farmers like Harbage are battling a double threat – the climate crisis and the Trump administration’s trade policies.
Last year, parts of the eastern corn belt were hit with an unforgiving drought, leaving some regions harvesting barely 20% of crops. Between June and October, rain was almost nonexistent. Across the nation, drought, heat, and wildfires devastated fields, costing crop producers $11 billion.
“Last year, we got a good crop started, and then it just quit raining. Our yields were reduced by at least 25–30%,” Harbage recalls.
This year, the script flipped. Instead of drought, excessive rainfall drowned fields, fueling disease outbreaks and pest infestations across thousands of acres of soybeans and corn.
“There were only three-day windows where it looked like things might dry out, and then it would rain again,” he explains. “We finished planting in June, when we usually wrap up by May 15. Planting late means weaker conditions and less time for crops to fully mature before harvest.”
With the 2025 harvest for corn and soybeans—America’s two most important crops—fast approaching, farmers are staring down a perfect storm: violent weather swings, skyrocketing input costs, and shrinking international demand.
Harbage sums it up bluntly: “Farming is not for the worrisome. We always joke that we’re crisis managers.”
Tariffs and Trade Wars: A One-Two Punch
Adding to weather woes, global demand has been shaken by tariffs. Since 2017, when President Trump first imposed tariffs, American farmers have been losing their biggest market: China. Once the top buyer of U.S. soybeans, China has scaled back dramatically, buying just 24.9 million metric tons last year—still massive, but far below previous levels.
In fact, U.S. soybean exports hit a 20-year low last month.
Harbage is torn:
“Tariffs might help the country in the long run. But in the short run, they’re terrible for farmers. We’re taking it on the chin. If we can’t export, prices drop. And if we also have a bad crop, that’s a knockout punch.”
The reality is grim: farmers can’t compete with Brazil’s cheaper soybeans, and China hasn’t made a single U.S. purchase for the upcoming season. With a 20% retaliatory duty from Beijing still in place, American soybeans simply aren’t competitive.
A Farm Economy in Decline
Even as Trump pushes a $60 billion subsidy package for farmers, critics argue it disproportionately benefits large producers, not family farms like Harbage’s. Meanwhile, commodity prices have been in steady decline due to a shrinking cattle herd and falling ethanol demand.
Virginia Houston of the American Soybean Association doesn’t sugarcoat it:
“The farm economy is in a much tougher place than in 2018 during Trump’s last trade war. Prices keep falling while the costs of seed, fertilizer, chemicals, land, and equipment keep climbing.”
Weather Whiplash and Crop Diseases
Beyond trade and tariffs, unpredictable weather is wreaking havoc. This summer brought daily storms across Indiana and Ohio, flooding fields and killing young plants. Soon after, farmers were hit with corn diseases like blight, gray leaf spot, and tar spot.
“When crops are under attack by disease, they can’t grow to full potential—they’re fighting to survive,” Harbage says. Even with fungicides, this summer’s heat and humidity overwhelmed treatment. Now, on top of everything, he’ll have to pay more for propane to dry out moisture-heavy corn before it’s market-ready.
Farmers’ Message to Trump: Fix Exports
Despite all the challenges, many rural voters still back Trump. But frustration is rising, especially as tariffs and low exports batter profits.
If Trump walked onto his farm today, Harbage knows exactly what he’d say:
“Exports are number one. That’s the fix. We have to move what we grow—or find ways to use it here. We export $83 billion worth of goods to China, Mexico, and Canada. If they’re not buying, we’re stuck with the crop.”
For now, farmers across the Midwest are bracing for another uncertain harvest season—caught between climate chaos, trade wars, and policies that leave family farms on the edge.
Description:
"American farmers are battling climate disasters and Trump’s tariffs. With exports crashing and costs soaring, many warn the future of U.S. agriculture is at risk."