As tariffs take hold, Missouri farmers and advocates wonder about future

ST. LOUIS, Mo. (First Alert 4) -Tariffs are now in effect against multiple nations, and concerns are growing in agriculture. Many Missouri exports go to nations now under tariffs.

The Missouri Department of Agriculture outlines a number of export countries, of which Mexico, Canada and China are listed -- now affected by U.S. tariffs, and preparing their own.

First Alert 4 was able to speak with the Missouri Rural Crisis Center about their concerns with tariffs, and their hopes for a stronger Farm Bill in the near future. Tim Gibbons, part of the MRCC, recently published an Op-Ed outlining their concerns titled, “Missouri farms can’t withstand another round of Trump tariffs.”

“What we need to do is policy-based, based on a real democratic process that reflects what’s actually going on out here,” Gibbons told First Alert 4.

Missouri ag exports just in the western hemisphere are worth over $2 billion, according to state figures..

For the MRCC, the concern is bigger than tariffs, it’s about the economic survival of small farms. The nonprofit feels for farmers should be through policy, like a new Farm Bill.

First Alert 4 spoke to several Missouri farmers off camera who were seriously concerned about the impacts of tariffs to the stock market, how that translated to farm impacts and crop insurance. Many worried that non-farm folks do not understand the severity of the impacts.

And it reaches beyond just farmyards – fertilizer for ag work is being impacted too. This is a story we’ve been following since tariff talks began.

Tuesday, the Fertilizer Institute said these tariffs could affect fertilizer price, impacting harvests – because most potash comes from Canada.

Under the tariffs outlined Tuesday morning, 25% tariffs will be applied to all imports to Mexico -- in Canada, there is a 25% tariff on most goods -- with lower rates for energy.

MRCC feels that tariffs aren’t the best choice: “but let’s talk about farm bill policies, and make those policies farmers, economy and food system -- and economy in general -- this isn’t just an issue within the ag community.”

Avery Martinez covers water, ag & the environment for First Alert 4. He is also a Report for America corps member, as well as a member of the Mississippi River Basin Ag & Water Desk. His coverage goes from corn farms to hunting concerns, and local water rates to rancher mental health.

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