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Farmers say trade war could have dire consequences

Three Nebraska farmers say a trade war with China or other countries that import U.S. ag products, resulting from President Trump’s steel and aluminum tariffs, could have dire consequences for their farming operations.

“If some of these tariffs are put in place, and if some of the trade is changed, it will reduce the price of my corn and soybeans,” says Larry Mussack of Decatur, Nebraska. “Bottom line is, I make less money—and hopefully it’s not to the point that it puts me out of business.”

Ethan Zoerb of Litchfield says he’s also concerned about the possible loss of NAFTA. Either way, Zoerb says a big drop in corn and soybean prices would make it very tough for him.

“Me personally, where I don’t farm very much, it would be very hard to stay around. It’s already tight margins as it is,” Zoerb says. “The larger growers might be able to weather it a little bit better. But it would be very hard for me to be able to continue doing this.”

Daren Niemeyer of Bladen says a trade war would be double whammy for farmers

“We could be getting it at both ends,” Niemeyer says. “Our corn prices could be going down because of the glut of grain—and our steel price for the equipment we use to grow the crop could be going higher because of the tariffs imposed on the steel coming into this country.”

The farmers spoke with Brownfield at a Nebraska Corn Growers Leadership Summit in York.

AUDIO: Larry Mussack

 

AUDIO: Ethan Zoerb

 

AUDIO: Daren Niemeyer