Tariffs and Trade Wars Devastate Ohio Farmers, Threaten US Ag Economy

Ohio farmers are struggling to stay afloat as tariffs and foreign competition take their toll on their bank accounts. Beef farmer Joe Logan, president of the Ohio Farmers Union, says that farmers are being unfairly blamed for food-borne illnesses in produce. He points to cuts made within the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), particularly to the Agricultural Food Safety Inspection Service, as a contributing factor.

The USDA's website lists 17 active alerts, including recalls and public health alerts, with ten classified as Class 1, the highest priority for recalls. Logan blames the lack of country-of-origin listings on cuts of beef, pork, and ground beef, which was repealed in 2016.

Tariff prices are also affecting farmers, particularly those who import beef from other countries to counterbalance the price increases. Beef farmer Chris Gibbs notes that two-thirds of livestock grown in Canada is sent to the U.S., making it difficult for American farmers to compete. The recent announcement by President Trump to import beef from outside the U.S. has dimmed hopes for Logan's herd expansion.

Farmers are also facing a 'cash-flow working capital crisis' due to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which has changed the priorities of the Farm Bill. Gibbs and Logan argue that agriculture is now dependent on one party, making it a 'dangerous place to be'. They urge Congress and the Trump administration to address their concerns and bring back funding for the Farm Bill and long-established supports.