US farmers have been looking for some stability after a mercurial year under President Donald Trump’s tariffs. But after new trade upheaval last week, it’s becoming increasingly clear that uncertainty is the only constant, reports Bloomberg.
“One of the things in this industry is that there’s always uncertainties,” Krista Swanson, chief economist at the National Corn Growers Association, said in an interview at the Commodity Classic conference in San Antonio. “So we’re constantly in this place of trying to balance these things.”
The latest shift came as Trump implemented a new 10 per cent global tariff aimed at preserving his trade agenda, after the US Supreme Court struck down the president’s original sweeping duties. He also threatened to raise the number to 15pc.
Tariffs have battered US agriculture for more than a year, upending trade flows and choking off access to key markets like China. The pressure is landing on farmers already squeezed by weak crop prices and stubbornly high input costs, deepening anxiety over how the administration’s latest moves will shape demand for US harvests.
Dissatisfaction among farmers – a cornerstone of Republican support – carries potential political consequences. Sentiment among growers has darkened at the start of 2026, while former farm leaders and government officials warn current trade policies are inflicting lasting damage. The escalating friction over tariffs risks alienating rural voters ahead of midterm elections.
Tariff tensions echoed throughout the presentations at the three-day Commodity Classic.
“The global tariff now throws more volatility and uncertainty into the market,” said Caleb Ragland, chairman of the American Soybean Association. “We’re drastically held back when these burdens of tariffs and other issues make it where we can’t be competitive.”
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