White Farmers Are Getting a Taste of Their Own Medicine

"On Monday, Donald Trump announced that his administration will give farmers a $12 billion bailout-a tacit admission that his trade policies suck. Farmers have spent much of the last year complaining about rising production costs, falling crop prices and the loss of multiple markets due to Trump's tariffs and the trade wars they have launched. All in all, farmers are projected to lose roughly $44 billion in profits this year, in large part because of Trump administration policies."

"Ragland, for example, supported Trump dating back to 2016, making him just one of many in rural America. Trump won a majority of USDA "farming-dependent" counties ahead of his first term, and within a year of assuming office, his trade wars drove American farm exports to China down from $19.5 billion to $9 billion. Ultimately, farmers saw a decline of $27 billion in agricultural exports, nearly 71 percent of that attributable to soybean profit losses."

"Ragland, a soybean farmer, still turned right back around and voted for Trump again in both 2020 and 2024. Here again, he was just one of many. Farmers increased their support for Trump by 5 percent in 2020, hitting 76 percent support, and then added another 2 percent in 2024, reaching 78 percent support. In 100 of the country's 444 "farming-dependent" counties, according to Investigate Midwest, Trump won a whopping 80 percent of the vote."

The administration will give farmers a $12 billion bailout. Farmers complained about rising production costs, falling crop prices and the loss of multiple markets due to tariffs and trade wars. Farmers are projected to lose roughly $44 billion in profits this year, largely because of administration policies. Soybean exports to China dropped from $19.5 billion to $9 billion, contributing to a $27 billion decline in agricultural exports, with nearly 71 percent attributable to soybean profit losses. Despite losses, many predominantly white farming communities have repeatedly voted for Trump, increasing his support among farmers to 78 percent.

Read at The Nation