American farmers worry they'll pay the price of Trump's trade war

[riversedge]

Source: the guardian




The US agriculture industry, often the first to feel the hit of trade disputes, is bracing itself as nations threaten to retaliate

Dominic Rushe in New York @dominicru

Sun 3 Jun 2018 01.00 EDT


America’s farmers are about to start harvesting the wheat crop. Close to 60m tonnes are gathered annually and almost half is usually exported. Where this crop will be sold, though, remains an open question.

As Donald Trump’s trade war escalates, a lot of farmers are worried. Trump was elected, in part, on a promise to put America’s interests first and crack down on what he characterises as a world trade system rigged against the US. But until recently the president has acted like many of his predecessors – talking tough on the campaign trail but backtracking in the White House.



All that has changed. Week after week, Trump’s trade talk has seemed to harden. “One of the most concerning things is how this is escalating,” said David Salmonsen, the senior director for congressional relations at the American Farm Bureau Federation, one of US agriculture’s most powerful lobby groups.

...................................................

Farmers are often the first to feel the hit in trade disputes that may not involve their own products, said Salmonsen. This time, the scale of the dispute could hardly be worse: US agricultural exports are worth about $140bn a year. Canada and Mexico import about $39bn worth, China’s share is $20bn and the EU around $12bn. All those countries have threatened retaliation over metal tariffs.

The dispute looks set to escalate. ...............................

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/science/2018/jun/02/trump-trade-war-impact-farming-agriculture-industry

---

The article says June will a pivotal month for decisions.



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A farm in Arizona. US agricultural exports are worth about $140bn a year. Photograph: Zuma/Rex/Shutterstock

[Achilleaze]

1. republican Comrade Casino* has important message for US farmers

* aka republican Draft-Dodger-in-Chief

[NCjack]

32. Trump family is getting richer -- many of them will lose their farms. Pity -- not.

[Vinca]

2. In the words of a former POTUS (formerly thought to be the worst ever):

[Bengus81]

3. Aw shucks....I really feel sorry for those TRUMP voters

Their worried about his trade war? Hell he showed them he didn't give a flying fvick when he killed the TPP which was another outlet for farmers to sell excess grain. All because a BLACK guy got out a pen and signed onto it.

Farmers in far western Kansas went 90+ percent for Shitler when they had a choice to go with sensibility. But...they got a big ole' tax cut,let's see how well that works when their grain is setting instead of being sold.

[Perseus]

11. I feel as sorry for them as you do

The worst part is that they will continue to vote republican...these people never learn.

[DownriverDem]

15. Exactly

My first thought was did these farmers vote for trump? And if they did, I don't feel sorry for them at all. I see where Corker said that they are trying to fix the tarrifs. We'll see. if they don't will those farmers vote for the Dems next November? We'll see.

[ananda]

16. Most of them are a lost cause.

I think they'd rather die than vote Dem since
that are so racist and bigoted... really
narrowminded and batshit.

[vlyons]

30. I used to live in rural East Texas

Most people were ranchers, or grew hay and pine for lumber. All the little country roads were lined with vote for Trump and Ted Cruz signs. They were deeply racist, letting rip the N-word with no shame whatsoever. 2 or 3 little fundamentalist country Churches at every main cross-road. Where 30% of high school students drop out before graduation. They will continue to vote Republicans no matter what. We need to stop trying to convert Trumpsters. It's a waste of time and energy. Instead, we need to motivate Hispanics, Blacks, and youth to get out and vote. There are plenty of Hispanics, Blacks, and youth in that rural area, but they are discouraged to vote.

[workinclasszero]

43. Totally agree with you

There are millions of non voting, non racist, non gay hating Americans out there who are discouraged from voting because of the "both party's are the same" BS.

If we reach, educate and motivate these millions to the polls we can destroy the Trump party zombies forever!

The deplorables are unreachable, brainwashed with hate that is reinforced 24/7 by Fox "news", hate radio and probably their church on Sunday.

They are a dying breed anyway, lets go with the younger folks who still want a decent world to raise their kids in.

[olegramps]

46. Their apathy is dangeous to their wellbeing. I won't hold breath till is sinks in.

I am old and nearing the end so it isn't going to affect me. I really don't have much sympathy for the disinterested youth who can't take time out to get informed, let along go to the polls. I worked on this segment for a number of years, but I am to damn old now. The Democratic action committees attempted to get them involved and it was a rarity that anyone responded. The reaction of the youth in Florida is encouraging, but will it last?

[vlyons]

53. I'm 71

with heart disease. I haven't given up on them. As they see more blacks get elected in other states, and others states expand medicaid, they will begin to take heart again. No one ever said that it would be easy.

[olegramps]

55. I certainly hope you are right. I haven't given up all hope, just hope it isn't a repeat.

I saw a huge ground swell during the protests to end the Viet Nam war and the Civil Rights movement. I attended many marches and rallies and thought that things were really going to change and I saw that the younger folks were in the forefront demanding change. I have not seen a similar response to today's issues but perhaps its because they are not directly affected like those being in the jeopardy of the draft. That seemed to get their attention. The problem is as I see it they don't appear to me to be as concerned with what is happening now and how it could have a fundamental change of their lives. I am talking about the threat of a authoritarian government much like what is emerging throughout Europe and rapidly challenging liberal democracies.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

4. They are already. Ask the pork farmers in Trumplandia. Soy sales dried up when China retaliated. nt

[Girard442]

5. If you vote for someone because he promises to treat others badly...

...know that it won't be long until it's your turn in the meatgrinder.

[Perseus]

12. I think they think that because they voted for him

that all these bad things he and his co-hosts are doing will not affect them. What, you voted for trump and the republicans? well then, these things don't apply to you, only to those people we hate...

[Corgigal]

37. We all will,

just some of us feel it sooner. Trump voters can't believe that a President could affect their lives so drastically and quickly. That being white, salt of the earth people, they believed the marketing.
They make us look like fools.

[Strelnikov_]

54. "Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to . . suffering" n/t

[Glorfindel]

6. Aw, what a shame. Poor farmers! How could they have predicted tRump's perfidy?

Just as soon as I can fit them into my busy schedule, they'll have my thoughts and prayers.

[Bengus81]

7. And on Nov 6th they'll pull a lever for ANY Republican running from Congress to dog catcher..

They will here,they LOVE to vote for people that HURT them.

[hatrack]

9. Precisely - too bad, so sad, FUCK THEM

They voted for a belligerent, ignorant asshole.

And now he's acting like one.

SURPRISE!!!!

[paleotn]

8. Not only farmers....

....American retailers from Wally World to Lowes and Home Depot and damn near everyone in between. American manufacturers due to higher input prices for steel and aluminum (and others to come) along with tariffs on their exports. Higher prices for American consumers, no matter if what they're buying is US produced or imported. The ripple affects will impact all US consumers and businesses.

The corporate class knows this and are lobbying hard to put a stop to it. But that puts congressional Rethugs in an unenviable position. Lose campaign cash when they need it most or piss off the dumpster base? Rock and a hard place if you ask me. I have no sympathy for them.

[Perseus]

13. The trick for total control is to devastate the economy, and other things

That is the methodology dictators use.

1. Screw up education, you don't want intelligent people, you don't want people who think.
2. Screw up the economy, that way people will be worried about jobs, what they will eat next and not pay attention to your agenda.
3. Divide, at all cost blame someone else and arouse the hate of the masses.
4. Do what trump is doing, constantly campaigning, throwing the vitriol to the masses, that will make them angry, more hateful, and of course, throw in some lies that you are making things better, they don't pay attention, they won't know.
5. Isolate the country from your allies, you don't want their influence distracting the people from your agenda.
6. Change the constitution...and for those of you who do not believe this can, and may, happen...pay attention, it is coming unless we get rid of trump and his cronies.
7. Act quickly in dismantling social services, education, international treaties, health, etc. Evil people work fast, it takes less time and less effort to destroy. It took years to build the twin towers, only a couple of months of preparation and one day to bring them down.

and of course that there is more...pay attention, evil works behind close doors, they don't like to be seen, just like Dracula only goes out at night? that is how the GOP works.

[pazzyanne]

18. Your post hits at the very core of what

is the tRump administration's plan. If it is not his plan, he is sure adhering to the points you make. Every single point you have made has been on my watch list for the past 15 months. There are no surprises if you paid attention to what tRump has been doing his entire life. In another thread a poster said that tRump was damaged during his childhood. I agree with that totally and it was being raised by Fred Trump that did that damage. There is no way to undo the damage done to tRump. Our only hope is to stop him and undo the damage he is doing on a daily basis.

[calimary]

48. Perseus, would you consider making this post a thread of its own?

Man-oh-Man, if trump is into repetition as far as forcing his framing into the national mindset, THIS is the kind of thing WE should put on repeat. Constant round-the-clock repeat.

This needs to be said, read, and SPREAD.

[JHB]

52. You've just described conservative standard operating procedure...

...for the last 50 years.

It ain't just Trump, it's his whole damn party.

[workinclasszero]

61. So true

Trump is just the inevitable end game of Nixon's southern strategy, Rayguns Morning in America, Bush's compassionate conservatism AKA Kinder Gentler machine gun hand, Bush Jrs stay the course and finally Emperor Dump's MAGA.

[RestoreAmerica2020]

45. Agreed. Inevitably deplorables will get hit with higher prices but every American

....it already has--increase in gas ,groceries, household merchandise; people are taking less trips which impacts commerce tourist/hotel industries. Question: Who doesn't get hit by racist stupido's idiotic know nothing about anything, cause mayhem type policies?

[Shipwack]

10. This quote never grows old...

“'I never thought leopards would eat MY face,' sobs woman who voted for the Leopards Eating People's Faces Party." - Adrian Bott

[dalton99a]

26. .

[calimary]

50. Double Ouch!

[progressoid]

39. +1

[calimary]

49. Ouch.

[HAB911]

14. Tough shitski

[usaf-vet]

17. With two choices for Trump to choose from....

1. Helping your billionaire friends.
2. Steamrolling everyone else in the American economy.

Take a guess, will he go with option 1 or 2?

[RainCaster]

21. We call that Trickle Down

Just like the outhouse

[safeinOhio]

19. It's in the interest of big business for

farmers to fail and they can purchase farm land for pennies on the dollar. Farmers seem to never look farther than the next season, never a year or two ahead.


In the 1930s, German farmers were big supporters of the new leader and were then the first to be sent to the Russian Front.

[Phoenix61]

27. This is exactly what I was thinking

The family farms will be the ones hit the hardest. Their stupidity will impact all of us.

[B Stieg]

20. Conned by a Con Man

Who would have thunk it?

[Lucky Luciano]

22. I would love to see those assholes that voted for him to get their comeuppance. nt

[Turbineguy]

23. They should look on the bright side.

At least they are getting what they voted for.

[Hortensis]

24. Yes, but the ones who voted for Democrats?

We should spare a thought for them.

[Turbineguy]

25. True, true, true.

[Hortensis]

33. Sorry, I just commented on the last post at the time,

yours.

I just went to 3 conservative forums to see what they're saying on this. Nothing found. Not just very different viewpoints, but very different subjects. Dims are panicking as millenials flee their party.

[DBoon]

34. Yes all 10% of them

90% would vote for a fence post with an "R" next to it

[Hortensis]

36. More like almost 1 in 4 voted Democratic.

But go ahead and trash our own. Most won't know you're spitting on them.

[DBoon]

41. See post #3

"Farmers in far western Kansas went 90+ percent for Shitler when they had a choice to go with sensibility. But...they got a big ole' tax cut,let's see how well that works when their grain is setting instead of being sold."

Yes 90%

[Hortensis]

47. "Far western Kansas," DBoon, has 100% of our farmers?

I do see where you picked up the 90%, though.

China, also, which has been targeting Trump country for sanctions, also seemingly Canada just now to a significant extent.

[Bengus81]

62. No....the farmers in western Kansas went 90+% for Trump..........

[Hortensis]

63. Yes, that's what the article Dboon quoted said.

Not 90% of American farmers.

(Fwiw, 75+% of American farmers did, leaving a quarter who did not.)

[hatrack]

58. I've got thoughts AND prayers for them!

Wallace County, KS - Trump 91.3%; Clinton 5.8%
Greeley County, KS - Trump - 82.2%, Clinton 12.8%
Comanche County, KS - Trump 82.5%, Clinton 11.8%
Lane County, KS - Trump 82.4%, Clinton 12.2%
Kiowa County KS - Trump - 83.8%, Clinton 10.6%
Stanton County, KS - Trump - 77.7%, Clinton 18.2%
Clark County KS - Trump 82.4%, Clinton 11.9%
Hamilton County, KS - Trump 80.9, Clinton 13.9%
Hodgeman County, KS - Trump 84.1%, Clinton 12.2%
Sheridan County, KS - Trump 87.2%, Clinton 9.2%

https://www.kssos.org/elections/elections_statistics.html

[KY_EnviroGuy]

35. Conversations will be changing Hortensis

A lot of farmers meet up on many mornings at local restaurants for coffee and I'm sure the subject matter has now changed. Before, it was the latest Rush Limbaugh lines of BS, but now it may be on how they're going to pay their regular bills and loan payments.

This represents the chickens coming home to roost from over 40 years of Republican brainwashing in fly-over country.

.........

[Hortensis]

38. Yes. Of course, most have been worried and struggling

off and on for some while now, doing well and memorizing Rush's climate denial catchphrases for a while, then not. So I imagine some of that change is going to be from worrying about drought and expanding fields to make ends meet to filing for bankruptcy.

Meanwhile, back on the subdivision, food prices have been rising far faster than incomes for a long time now. And it's going to get worse.

[KY_EnviroGuy]

44. Our grocery bill has gone up, too - along with gasoline....

which affects farmers as well. Also read the cost of their farm equipment has risen drastically.

In my post #31 below from Farm & Dairy.com, they said pork producers have invested very heavily in capacity expansions and someone has to pay the loans for those investments, even if sales fall due to a trade war.

So, the ripple-through effects of tRump's reckless trade bombs are hurting many folks, including us......

[meadowlark5]

28. I hope they do

I hope they are hit hard and painfully. This is what you farmers voted for. Either fix it in 2018 midterms or swallow it as necessary sacrifices for your supreme leader's vision of #MAGA (even though it's a giant LIE)

[FSogol]

29. Fixed it: American farmers WILL pay the price of Trump's trade war

It is important who you vote for. Try to get it right next time, Farmers.

[KY_EnviroGuy]

31. Riversedge, farmers have already been hit hard...

Pork producers lost $2.2 billion because of US-China trade war
Link: https://www.farmanddairy.com/news/pork-producers-lost-2-2-billion-because-of-us-china-trade-war/491461.html

(snips)

According to Iowa State University Economist Dermot Hayes, U.S. pork producers have lost $2.2 billion since March 1, due to events leading up to and following China’s 25 percent punitive tariffs in retaliation for U.S. tariffs on aluminum and steel.
-----
According to Iowa States’ Hayes, since March 1, when speculation about Chinese retaliation against U.S. pork began, hog futures have dropped by $18 per animal, translating to a $2.2 billion loss on an annualized basis.
-----
Exports accounted for more than $53 of the average $149 value of a hog last year. The United States has, on average, been the top global supplier of pork over the last 10 years.

“We are dependent on exports and are one of the few sectors of the U.S. economy that can immediately reduce the trade imbalance with China, where pork represents approximately 10 percent of the consumer price index,” Heimerl said.

------
Who knew selling all those little pink pigs could be this hard???.......

[Historic NY]

40. Elections have consequences....

they voted for the chosen one.

[workinclasszero]

42. Sending my thoughts and prayers to Trump voting American farmers

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

56. #MAGA

Trump's agenda doesn't work for you unless you are rich. I mean really, really rich.

While it would be a cheap shot to take aim at those Trump-thumpers who are being screwed over by their Fearful Leader -- oh, what the hell:

[workinclasszero]

59. Agree

Trump has been a lying, mobbed up, con man his entire life.

There are no excuses for any non-billionaire stupid enough to vote for the criminal-in-chief.

Republican farmers are getting their just deserts as are former H-D workers in Kansas City.

When Trump's trade wars really take effect millions of Trump voters are going to get it in the shorts and I will laugh.

[MaryMagdaline]

51. Really?

American people worried that American farmers would vote for Trump.

[Freethinker65]

57. They got exactly who and what they voted for. Agribusiness will continue to buy up and consolidate

[workinclasszero]

60. Yup

They ran the same scam during Bush or Rayguns administration.

Bankrupt the family farmers and Big Ag moves in and buys their land cheap.

Keep voting republican, SUCKERS!

[Gothmog]

64. Trump supporters will pay for trump's stupidity and trade war

[crazycatlady]

65. Dairy farmers in upstate NY are hurting

Some of them are seeing incomes of under $20/month.