Farming

2018

2018-02-01 Trump proposed $183M in cuts to Conservation Technical Assistance, which was designed to help farmers implement conservation practices.

https://sustainableagriculture.net/blog/trump-budget-proposal-disaster/#:~:text=Some%20of%20the%20biggest%20cuts,a%20farm%20bill%20in%202018.

https://www.swcs.org/resources/news/president-trumps-2019-budget-cuts-funding-for-conservation#:~:text=and%20agricultural%20research.-,Conservation%20Funding,Research%20Service’s%20(ERS)%20budget.

https://civileats.com/2018/02/16/trump-budget-would-undo-conservation-gains-on-farms-and-ranches/#:~:text=The%20Trump%20administration’s%20proposed%20cuts,for%20conservation%20outcomes%20and%20landowners.

2020

2020-05-26 America invested $15M to prevent screwworm and saved farmers an estimated $796M in damages.

https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2020/05/flesh-eating-worms-disease-containment-america-panama/611026/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vI3YYSddoM&list=WL&index=1&t=265s

2020-10-28 Trump handed farmers bailouts after his first trade war.

https://www.cfr.org/blog/92-percent-trumps-china-tariff-proceeds-has-gone-bail-out-angry-farmers

2021

2021-08-13 JD Vance promoted an indoor farming company that faced allegations of misleading regulators and investors.

https://www.seattletimes.com/business/jd-vances-firm-invested-in-food-company-now-facing-lawsuits/

https://www.cnn.com/2024/08/13/politics/kentucky-startup-appharvest-jd-vance

https://thehill.com/homenews/ap/ap-business/ap-jd-vances-firm-invested-in-food-company-now-facing-lawsuits/

2024

2024-09-18 JD Vance funded AcreTrader, which led to consolidation of farmland and reduced competition. Allegedly, JD Vance’s firm bought up American farmland and resold it to foreign investors.

https://civileats.com/2024/09/18/jd-vance-invested-in-acretrader-heres-why-that-matters/

https://www.snopes.com/news/2024/10/08/jd-vance-acretrader/

2025 January

2025-01-20 The Trump administration froze funds to USAID. By March USAID was 83% gutted. By July 24, 2025 Trump signed the Rescissions Act of 2025 to claw back $8B in funding from USAID. Aside from foreign aid, dismantling USAID can negatively impact farm subsidies.

2025 April

2025-04-01 The Trump administration cut $754M in funding from conservation technical assistance.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jan/14/biden-trump-climate-change-funds#:~:text=1%20year%20old-,Biden%20Trump%2Dproofs%20$74bn%20in%20climate%20funding%20but%20$20,becomes%20president%20on%2020%20January.

2025-04-01 Trump repealed Biden’s Salmonella Framework for Raw Poultry Products. Because of the repeal, poultry products contaminated with Salmonella can legally be sold so long as existing, less stringent, safety standards are met.

https://civileats.com/2025/11/03/poultry-plants-consistently-violate-salmonella-standards-report-finds/

https://www.food-safety.com/articles/10343-usda-withdraws-proposed-regulatory-framework-for-salmonella-in-poultry-after-years-of-development

https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/us-farm-agency-withdraws-proposal-aimed-lowering-salmonella-risks-poultry-2025-04-24/

STATEMENT FROM THE NATIONAL CHICKEN COUNCIL https://www.nationalchickencouncil.org/ncc-statement-on-withdrawal-of-salmonella-framework/

2025 June

2025-06-24 During Trump’s second trade war farmers sought after another bailout.

https://investigatemidwest.org/2025/06/24/why-trumps-second-trade-war-could-be-worse-for-us-farmers/

2025-06-24 Newsmax posted, “A government agency spending $300 million in taxpayer dollars to produce sterilized flies sounds like a dream scenario for a DOGE team looking to cut waste, fraud and abuse”. In June of 2026 there was a flesh-eating screwworm outbreak after DOGE cut the research and development sectors responsible for sterilizing the males so there wouldn’t be an outbreak.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vI3YYSddoM&list=WL&index=1&t=265s

2025 September

2025-09-01 Soybean sales to China plummet compared to $12.6 Billion in sales in September 2024.

https://www.newsweek.com/white-house-in-a-bind-as-soybean-sales-to-china-plummet-to-zero-10800487

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/25/business/china-soybean-sales-farmers.html

https://farmaction.us/china-stopped-buying-u-s-soybeans-the-real-problem-started-decades-ago/

2025 October

2025-10-01 In response to the government shutdown, the Trump administration furloughed 96% of NRCS staff, effectively freezing conservation programs and the processing of financial aid and contracts for farmers.

https://farmpolicynews.illinois.edu/2025/10/nearly-half-of-usda-employees-to-be-furloughed-as-govt-shuts-down

https://sustainableagriculture.net/blog/how-the-government-shutdown-is-impacting-farmers/

2025-10-03 China bought 25% (roughly 7 billion tons) of Argentina’s soybean complex.

https://www.farmprogress.com/commentary/china-thrives-without-u-s-soybeans

https://www.expanamarkets.com/insights/article/us-soybean-window-narrows-as-china-buys-big-from-argentina/

2025-10-24 After bailing Argentina out with $40M, Trump announced the U.S. would be buying their beef too.

https://www.npr.org/2025/11/03/nx-s1-5590225/cattle-rancher-reacts-to-trumps-plan-to-import-more-beef-from-argentina

https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/trump-quadrupling-argentina-beef-tariff-rate-quota-80000-metric-tons-2025-10-23/

https://ipmnewsroom.org/trump-wants-to-import-beef-from-argentina-republicans-and-ag-groups-say-what-about-america/

https://www.cnn.com/2025/10/12/economy/argentina-america-bailout-currency

2025-10-28 Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent called himself a farmer during an ABC interview. For context, Bessent owns land in North Dakota which he rents out to farmers.

https://www.advocate.com/news/scott-bessent-soybean-farmer

https://www.cnn.com/2025/10/28/economy/bessent-soybean-china

https://www.tiktok.com/@abcnews/video/7565576442587761933

2025-10-30 Trump discussed trade deals in China with Xi Jinping, lowering tariff rates to 47% and establishing that China will buy 25M metric tons of soybeans annually over the next 3 years.

https://www.cnbc.com/2025/10/30/trump-xi-south-korea-rare-earth-tariff-trade-war-nvidia.html

2025 November

2025-11-02 Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins perpetuated SNAP fraud claims on social media and praised Trump for withholding food assistance.

https://x.com/SecRollins/status/1985007736896053318

2025-11-10 The Agriculture Department threatened to penalize states that didn’t “undo” steps to fully fund SNAP.

https://factkeepers.com/trump-administration-threatens-states-that-dont-undo-full-snap-payments/

https://www.politico.com/news/2025/11/09/trump-administration-tells-states-to-undo-full-snap-benefits-00643887

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/09/us/politics/trump-administration-states-undo-full-snap-food-stamps.html

https://www.npr.org/2025/11/09/nx-s1-5603417/full-snap-benefits-trump-states-order

2025-11-21 Tyson Foods closed the Lexington Nebraska beef plant, leaving roughly 3200 people out of a job. This boosted Tyson stocks by 6%.

https://cap.unl.edu/news/understanding-tyson-lexington-plant-closure-what-it-means-cattle-producers/

https://www.producer.com/livestock/tyson-to-close-beef-plant-as-supplies-dwindle/

https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/agencies-groups-reach-out-to-tyson-workers-as-lexington-beef-plant-closure-nears/

2025-11-24 The EPA approved two new pesticides with “forever chemicals” that would be used on food.

https://www.foodandwine.com/epa-approves-pesticides-containing-forever-chemicals-pfas-11855500

https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/epa-approves-pfas-pesticide-for-dozens-of-crops?srsltid=AfmBOoqlDbCVCfeKpf_qn2s9BPDrD35x0LxVIN7ytLtp8AUTpARNxuQv

https://time.com/7336883/epa-pfas-pesticides-health-risks/

https://waterkeeper.org/news/poisoned-produce-epa-approvals-threaten-public-health/

2025 December

2025-12-14 Trump announced a $12B bailout for farmers using tariff revenue.

https://www.tennessean.com/story/opinion/columnists/2025/12/14/trump-tariffs-china-american-farmers-bailout-costs-taxpayers/87752351007/

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-unveil-12-billion-aid-farmers-hit-by-trade-war-white-house-official-says-2025-12-08/

https://www.usda.gov/about-usda/news/press-releases/2025/12/08/trump-administration-announces-12-billion-farmer-bridge-payments-american-farmers-impacted-unfair

2026 March

2026-03-08 Billion-dollar farm subsidies for the top 2% of farmers.

https://www.cato.org/briefing-paper/cutting-federal-farm-subsidies

https://sustainableagriculture.net/blog/at-a-crossroads-house-farm-bill-falls-unmistakably-short/

https://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/2026/03/09/house-farm-bill-big-ag/

https://thehill.com/opinion/5152241-us-agriculture-reform-brooke-rollins/

https://www.foodandpower.net/latest/obbb-farm-subsidies-snap-jul-25

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/15693430601108086#d1e332

https://www.mpi.govt.nz/dmsdocument/27282-New-Zealand-Agriculture

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YJ-ZhDG7Jo&list=WL&index=8

2026-03-10 The war in Iran affected global fertilizer trade and global helium supplies.

https://carnegieendowment.org/emissary/2026/03/fertilizer-iran-hormuz-food-crisis

https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2026/3/18/not-just-energy-how-the-iran-war-could-trigger-a-global-food-crisis

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/mar/20/iran-war-us-farming-impact

https://worldview.stratfor.com/article/assessing-iran-wars-impact-global-fertilizer-supplies

https://www.ifpri.org/blog/the-iran-war-potential-food-security-impacts

https://www.npr.org/2026/03/15/nx-s1-5747927/the-war-in-iran-is-impacting-earths-supply-of-helium

https://www.cnbc.com/2026/03/19/the-iran-war-is-threatening-supply-helium-what-it-means-for-markets.html

2026 April

2026-04-30 A bale of hay costs $23, diesel costs rose up over 46%, screwworms were an issue in the Southern border, and additional cuts to SNAP benefits were made. Meanwhile farming families are under duress and the rate of farmer suicide is increasing.

https://www.instagram.com/reels/DXp39tRiciL/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmRokZs7gPQ&list=WL&index=2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LbxJS5uApQ&list=WL&index=1

https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/spiking-us-diesel-prices-keep-trucking-industry-stuck-years-long-slump-2026-03-27/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmRokZs7gPQ&list=WL&index=2

https://www.fb.org/initiative/farm-state-of-mind

https://www.agweb.com/news/business/health/startling-reality-rate-suicide-among-farmers-3-5-times-higher-general-population

2026 May

2026-05-09 The U.S. obligated millions of dollars in soybean, corn and vegetable oil trade from Argentina.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WObLO2hXP44&list=WL&index=3

https://www.farmprogress.com/marketing/china-inks-900-million-deal-for-argentine-crops-sidestepping-us-amid-trade-tensions

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-05-08/china-is-said-seeking-argentina-crops-as-it-skirts-us-tariffs

2026-05-13 The fertilizer shortage hit home for farmers in Michigan.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPXrXwuyAq8&list=WL&index=2

2026 June

2026-06-01 The drought crisis forced farmers to navigate water shortages.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twRvurz-Hhk&list=WL&index=6

2026-06-03 Farm Journal reported that “40% of agricultural economists say that many farmers will need significant restructuring to remain viable”.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWcx0PlCXWQ&list=WL&index=7

2026-06-04 Texas issued a state of disaster after a new world screwworm case was detected in cattle, goats and dogs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c28i80uaoCI&list=WL&index=8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnejR-LcNQc&list=WL&index=5

https://gov.texas.gov/news/post/governor-abbott-issues-new-world-screwworm-disaster-proclamation-in-june-2026

https://www.aphis.usda.gov/news/agency-announcements/usda-confirms-presence-new-world-screwworm-united-states

2026-06-05 Trump visited a swing district in Wisconsin amidst rising costs for American farmers. Experts reported numerous farmers are asset heavy and going bankrupt. Farm families held up banners while Trump talked about his reflecting pool project.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtJcWtYqxRI&list=WL&index=1&t=152s

https://www.wpr.org/news/trump-visit-chippewa-falls-wisconsin-rural-agriculture-3rd-district

SUB WALL https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/05/us/politics/trump-wisconsin-farmers-midterms.html

2026-06-11 Trump further advocated on Fox that he wanted the Chinese Communist Party to continue buying up American farmland.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hk9Bc2UETpo&list=WL&index=6

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/fox-news-corners-trump-siding-091420889.html

https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-deals-new-blow-to-us-farmers-on-china-trip-11957997

https://time.com/article/2026/05/17/Chinese-farmland-trump-students/

2026 July

2026-07-09 The Trump administration is changing the rules on applying and receiving grants for farmers that will make the process more burdensome and less reliable.

https://farmcommons.org/resources/video/federal-funding-rules-are-changing-what-you-need-to-know/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPf7HZ_JPFo&list=WL&index=2&t=1s

2026-07-10 Texas Ag Commissioner Sid Miller called for a special center to address AI data centers taking over Texas farmland.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBrCeWQRPrI&list=WL&index=2&t=125s

https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/politics/inside-politics/texas-politics/texas-ag-commissioner-calls-out-governor-demands-special-session-to-address-data-center-concerns/287-26da21de-cb39-4085-86e0-f1f8c22c1824

https://texasagriculture.gov/News-Events/Article/11984/Commissioner-Sid-Miller-Calls-on-Governor-Abbott-to-Convene-Special-Session-Bef

2026-07-13 The USDA provided an inaccurate report overreporting beef sales by 90%. After they were caught, they reissued a new report, blaming the original report numbers on staffing shortages.

https://www.reuters.com/business/usda-lowers-beef-export-sales-by-90-amid-growing-doubts-over-data-2026-07-09/

https://jcpost.com/posts/c5a1a926-4a4f-447a-9738-c27c48318449

https://ruralradio.com/kneb-am/news/usda-slashes-beef-export-sales-report-by-90-after-major-data-error/

2026-07-15 The House passed a bill to make Daylight Savings Time permanent.

https://www.cnn.com/2026/07/14/politics/house-vote-daylight-savings-time

https://www.today.com/video/house-passes-bill-to-stop-changing-the-clocks-266708037681

2026-07-15 The House GOP voted 216 to 214 to advance a $95BN reconciliation bill to fund Iran, aid farmers, and push for the SAVE Act.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/house-iran-war-save-america-act-funding-budget-resolution-vote/

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jul/22/iran-war-funding-bill

https://federalnewsnetwork.com/congress/2026/07/house-republicans-unveil-95-billion-plan-for-the-iran-war-farm-aid-and-elections/

2026-07-23 Senator Thune said he didn’t have the votes to pass the $95B reconciliation bill.

https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5985916-thune-senate-budget-resolution-reconciliation/

https://www.politico.com/news/2026/07/23/thune-scalise-trump-reconciliation-01009820

2026-07-24 Farmers spent an addition $1.4 Billion dollars in diesel fuel compared to a year ago since the start of the Iran war.

https://www.democracynow.org/2026/7/24/headlines/iran_war_sends_diesel_prices_soaring_costing_us_farmers_additional_14_billion

2026-07-25 Ranchers in Colorado reported the need for water hauling amidst droughts.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPtBKrT63Gs&list=WL&index=3

https://apnews.com/article/ranchers-water-hauling-bb468aa92a821c3fe20a381eda9762d7

https://coloradosun.com/2026/06/22/ready-for-your-next-steak-these-ranchers-are-battling-drought-to-bring-it-to-you/