As Tariffs Rise, One Family’s Fields Tell the Real Cost of the Trade War

Willis Nelson, a third-generation farmer in eastern Louisiana, was hoping to avoid the worst.

The 38-year-old farms 4,000 acres in Sondheimer with his brothers and father. They grow row crops such as corn, cotton, and soybean, which are the leading U.S. agricultural exports that are sold to a global market. 

This year, they opted out of planting soybeans and instead focused on the others, and adding a new crop, rice, in the rotation. The past three years have been difficult to farm for the Nelsons, particularly because of extreme weather changes. They hoped the versatility would help make a profit.

But, it didn’t. 

With the harvest season at its end, Nelson said they haven’t gotten rid of any rice. Now he’s hoping to sell it by December or January at a lower price. He’s heard that other farmers are storing their unsold crops for the future.

The Nelson family sold their other crops to a local agricultural trading company who then sells it to other countries. But those crops didn’t sell for the normal market price because of the tariffs — which are government taxes on imported goods. For example, the Nelsons would have to receive at least $5.25 for a bushel of corn to make a profit, but sold it for $3.45. On top of that, expenses — such as fertilizer — are higher than normal. 

“Commodities [are] already low, then with the tariffs, it’s just like putting a nail in the coffin on it,” he told Capital B. “We planted rice this year for the first time because we thought rice was gonna be a moneymaker. Turn out, all commodity prices [are] in the dump.”

The Nelsons’ struggle resembles thousands of farmers across the nation suffering from the trade war between the U.S. and China, the world’s largest soybean importer. China hasn’t bought the crop from America since May. Earlier in the year, Trump imposed an additional 25% tariff on most countries, with more significant increases targeting China, escalating tensions between the two countries. 

Although the focus is mostly on soybeans, the repercussions of this conflict extend beyond that, affecting farmers like the Nelsons who grow a wide variety of other crops. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent met with Chinese leaders in Malaysia on Oct. 26 and said the additional 100% tariffs on China are “effectively off the table.” He told CBS’s Face the Nation that the global soybean market has been brought “back into equilibrium.” On Nov. 5, the U.S. Supreme Court is set to hear oral arguments in a case over Trump’s power to impose sweeping tariffs.

Soon there may be some relief for farmers as the USDA plans to release $3 billion from existing programs. This effort is separate from the potential multimillion-dollar bail-out program for producers impacted by the tariffs.

Despite the federal government shutdown entering its fifth week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture will resume some operations by opening thousands of Farm Service Agency county offices across the country, a department spokesperson confirmed in an email to Capital B. The offices will be staffed with two employees for five days a week. The workers will receive pay, according to the USDA.

“Secretary Rollins is reopening county FSA offices, so farmers once again have access to core USDA services like farm loan processing and disaster relief payments,” the statement said. 

Farmers call on Trump for aid

During Trump’s first term, farmers were hit hard by retaliatory tariffs, losing more than $27 billion in agricultural exports, according to the USDA. The top commodities that experienced the largest losses were cotton, pork, sorghum, and soybeans. Soybeans accounted for 71% of the total loss. 

At the time, the Trump administration created a subsidy program called the Market Reconciliation Program to offset the losses, which provided $12 billion in aid. However, more than 99% of the funds went to wealthy white farmers, specifically men.

This time around, Trump is developing a plan to issue $10 billion in aid for farmers. That hasn’t materialized yet; however, he’s already authorized $20 billion to improve Argentina’s struggling economy — and he’s looking to double the assistance. Trump is also importing more beef from Argentina to lower prices, a move that U.S. cattle farming groups have criticized.

There aren’t many options for U.S. producers, except to wait for a federal aid package, Nelson said. He has applied for grants and received funding to help cover the costs of conducting regenerative agriculture, which aims to improve the health of land. Many other grants are tied to research, he said. However, he is optimistic about the possibility of an aid package.

Another beacon of hope: his father.

“I’m blessed to still have my daddy around to tell us it’s gonna turn around,” he said. 

Nelson said another thing helping him through this time is seeing that other farmers are experiencing the same hardships because it helps him know he’s not alone. In the meantime, he’s waiting for market projections from institutions such as Louisiana State University to plan for next year. And he’s bracing for uncertainty.

“They can’t let all of us drown,” he added. “I’m optimistic that it’s gonna turn around.”

Are you a Black farmer or producer who has been impacted by the tariffs and want to share your story? Email aallyah.wright@capitalbnews.org.

Read More:

• Black Farmers Brace for Trump’s Tariffs While Navigating USDA Office Closures
• Black-Owned Businesses Confront Rising Costs Amid Trump’s Tariffs

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