Farmer expresses concerns over tariff impacts.
Farmers in Wisconsin are worried about the impacts of the tariffs on agricultural products like soybeans could have on the economy.
Sara Stelter, the owner of Stelter Farms in Wautoma, Wisconsin, grows a variety of crops including green beans, corn, and soybeans. For farmers like her, prices are often determined by the commodity markets, especially when it comes to crops used in canning.
However, with the growing uncertainty surrounding international trade deals, particularly the impact of tariffs, Stelter is concerned about the financial future of her farm.
While Stelter understands the need for the U.S. to ensure fair trade, she does not believe tariffs are the right solution. Reflecting on the 2018 trade war with China, she recalled how tariffs led to losses in the soybean market.
“As we saw in 2018 what happened with the exports, when they weren’t, when China wasn’t able to get soybeans cheaply from us, they went to Brazil. And we’re still feeling the effects of losing those markets,” Stelter said.
Instead of tariffs, Stelter hopes the U.S. government will explore alternative market opportunities to expand trade.
“Now, granted, you know, China, Canada, and Mexico are huge, so it would be hard to make up for that, but any way we can expand our markets is something that we really need to do, and that actually the ways we did that was looking at USAID programs,” she said.
Adding to her concern is the potential impact of tariffs on the quality of the crops grown at her farm.
“We receive about over 80% of our potash from Canada, and potash is, especially in Wisconsin, is a really important part of our fertilizer makeup that we need in order to grow high-quality crops. So that’s going to have a very high, high impact on the prices that we pay for our fertilizer,” she explained.
The worry for Stelter is not only about economic stability but the broader impact on rural communities.
“Farm income is huge for maintaining strong, healthy rural communities. And even on a larger scale, look at the ag economy and how important that is in Wisconsin,” Stelter said. “So you know, we really need to make sure they understand the full implications of what’s going on.”
As she continues to navigate these challenges, Stelter is hopeful that elected officials will consider the real-world consequences of tariffs and work toward a solution that supports local farmers and the agriculture economy at large.
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