Between tariffs and federal funding freezes, Trump’s presidency has been disastrous for Michigan’s farmers
LANSING — In case you missed it, Michigan farmers and their families are facing economic disaster as Trump’s extremist agenda throws their livelihoods into chaos. Every single day, farmers across Michigan work to help put food on the table for families across the state and country with what they grow — and now, all of that is at risk because of Donald Trump.
Republicans clearly don’t care that Trump is destroying farms that have been passed down for generations — and Michiganders are taking notes on his erratic agenda. From plunging consumer confidence to protests at Republican town halls and offices, Michiganders know exactly who is responsible for not only endangering our farmers and our food, but throwing our economy into the toilet.
Michigan farmers do not deserve to be thrown to the wolves, but, like always, Trump will take aim at anyone and everyone to line his and his billionaire buddies’ pockets.
Read more about how Trump’s destroying Michigan farms:
NBC News: She hoped Trump would revive her farm. Now she worries his policies could bankrupt it.
- “I was expecting to see a drastic turnaround for the better for my farm because the Republicans have always been for the American farmer,” said Carlson, a longtime Republican and Trump supporter…
- Instead, her farm has been caught up in the widespread government funding freezes, jeopardizing her ability to hire the workers she needs for this season’s harvest. It could leave her $200,000 in debt if she’s unable to access the grant money that had been awarded to her farm…
- Voters in rural and agriculture-reliant areas have been one of Trump’s most consistent bases of support since he first emerged on the political scene a decade ago. But the early days of his second administration have introduced a lot of risk to this sector of the economy.
- Trump’s proposed tariffs could drive up the price of grain and fertilizers while lowering demand overseas for U.S. agriculture products.
- Meanwhile, spending cuts and freezes have directly affected federally funded programs that provide loans and grants to farmers…
- While the situation with tariffs moves forward, Carlson says she doesn’t have much time to wait to solve her problems.
- Her farm had been awarded a grant worth $400,000 through the U.S. Department of Agriculture to help pay for the costs associated with hiring seasonal workers from overseas through the H-2A visa program, which farmers have used for years to hire temporary agricultural workers…
- But now, funding for that program appears to be frozen. Farmers like Carlson have been unable to get reimbursed for expenses they’ve already incurred under the grant, and there has been no official guidance from the USDA on whether they will get reimbursed for future expenses…
- “It’s kind of like have the rug pulled out from underneath you,” Marsh said.
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