Why Trump tariffs hurt Tennessee farmers
Dear Tennessee Congressional Delegation,
Tennessee has a rich agricultural history; just look at our state’s seal. With over 65,000 farms throughout the state covering over 10 million acres, farmers are a key part of our economy.
While the majority of farms are small and make less than $25,000 a year, there are many family-sized farms that are dependent on international trade agreements that keep the market stable.
That’s why we are worried about the impact of the escalating tariffs and ensuing trade dispute on our bottom line. Farmers depend not only on domestic sales, but a lot of us sell our American made goods — whether it is soybeans, beef or pork — to countries abroad.
The steel and aluminum tariffs, along with the subsequent retaliatory tariffs from our international trade partners, will cripple Tennessee agriculture. From farm manufacturers to the mother buying fresh vegetables at the grocery store, the negative impact of these political games will be felt far and wide.
The tariffs on steel and aluminum would raise prices for farmers who need to update their equipment, expand production, or renovate farm buildings and storage. Thanks to retaliatory tariffs, it will be harder to export Tennessee’s crops and hurt farmers’ ability to make ends meet. Many of us stand to lose hundreds of millions in soybean sales if countries start canceling their orders.
Even worse, the overall instability and volatility of the market caused by almost daily changes in tariffs and retaliation will reduce annual farm income and hurt Tennessee farm families.
Put bluntly, these tariffs are bad for all Tennesseans. These tariffs are the clearest example of backroom Washington politics run amok at the expense of hardworking people here at home.
We are writing to you as a call to action: it is time to put politics aside and stand up for Tennessee.
Thanks to our Senators for being a leading voice, but it’s time for all of our elected leaders in Congress to speak out and put an end to these tariffs.
We call on our congressional leaders, especially those who are running for higher office, including U.S. Rep. Diane Black and U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn to oppose these tariffs loudly. If you won’t stand for Tennessee’s farmers and families, don’t expect us to stand with you. Sincerely, Gayle Alley, Tennessee Future Farmers of America, Youth Activities, Davidson County
Eddie Anderson, soybean, wheat and corn farmer, Dyer County
Stratton Bone, Wilson County livestock producer, Wilson County
Gordon Bone, livestock producer, Wilson County
Butch Borchert, retired commercial fisherman, Benton County
Kevin Brown, state conservationist, USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service, retired, Williamson County
Leonard Bundren, cattle farmer, Claiborne County
Joe Burns, beef cattle farmer, Bledsoe County
Larry Bushart, row crop farmer, Crockett County
Alex Bynum, cattle farmer, Weakley County
Randy Camp, hay and cotton Farmer, Crockett County
General “Glad” Castellaw, cotton and hay farmer, Crockett County
Robert Collier, nursery and beef cattle farmer, Warren County
Gene Davidson, beef cattle farmer, Robertson County
Kaleb Dinwiddie, owner of Dinwiddie Farms, Gibson County
Dave Fugate, beef cattle farmer, Blount County
Ken Givens, 34th commissioner of agriculture of Tennessee, Hawkins County
Bill Givens, cattle and tobacco farmer, Hawkins County
Bobby Goode, former USDA rural development state director for Tennessee, Weakley County
Ed Greene, cattle farmer, Hancock County
David Gregory, Smith County Commission, Smith County
Bob Haley, soybean producer, Wilson County
Bill Harmon, beef cattle farmer, Sequatchie County
Stanley Holder, tobacco producer, Trousdale County
Francis H. Horne, retired row crop farmer, Hawkins County
Cotton Ivy, 31st commissioner of agriculture in Tennessee, Decatur County
Aaron Jenkins, soybean producer, Wilson County
Tommy Kilby, former state senator, Morgan County
John Litz, soybean, corn and wheat farmer, Hamblen County
Roy Majors, dairy farmer, Wilson County
Dustin Manning, beef cattle and row crop producer, Crockett County
George McDonald, grain farmer, Smith County
Vera and Eldon Myers, Myers Farm, Greene County
David Oliver, row crop farmer, Weakley County
Terry Oliver, 35th commissioner of agriculture in Tennessee, Weakley County
Donnie Seal, beef cattle farmer, Hancock County
Chad Smith, Smith Farms, Lauderdale County
Quintin Smith, purebred Angus producer, Wilson County
Jimmy Tosh, CEO of Tosh Pork and Farms, Henry County
Jack Whittenburg, beef cattle farmer, Pickett County
John Woodroof, agriculture chemical supplier, Wilson County
Eddie Yokley, beef cattle and hay farmer, Greene County