Farm Policy, Tariffs, and the Real Cost to Working Families

Editorial by Eli C. Owens | September 1, 2025 Tags: #Agriculture, #Economy, #WorkingFamilies, #TradePolicy

I live on a farm now, and I see firsthand how decisions made in Washington affect families in rural communities. Tariffs are often sold as tough negotiation or strategic pressure. In reality, tariffs are taxes. They increase costs for families, strain small businesses, and hurt farmers long before they affect foreign governments.

I have personally felt the financial weight of tariffs. When supply chains are disrupted, small farms pay more for equipment, feed, repairs, tools, and fuel. These costs do not disappear. They stack up month after month until they threaten the stability of families who have worked the land for generations.

Farmers are not political pieces. They are not bargaining tools. They are the foundation of our food supply and our rural economy.

Good farm policy should support stability, access to markets, and predictable pricing. It should not create uncertainty or force working families to absorb the cost of political strategy.

This is not a matter of political identity. It is a matter of fairness. Working families deserve a system that helps them grow food, build stability, and plan for the future.