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Corn growers react to Trump’s tariffs at Commodity Classic

Corn growers are concerned about President Trump’s tariffs.

On Tuesday, a 25% tariff took effect on most imports from Canada and Mexico, while tariffs on goods from China increase to 20%.

Speaking to Brownfield at the 2025 Commodity Classic, National Corn Growers Association President Kenneth Hartman Jr. said he hopes the tariffs are a short-term issue. “We did a study with (American Soybean Association) that showed long term tariffs do cause issues when it comes to Brazil and Argentina taking away some of our customers,” Hartman said. “We have a lot of concerns with that.”

Trent Kubik with South Dakota Corn says trade barriers need to be reduced. “Farmers in this country are very good at producing corn, and all commodities for that matter, and so we know we can’t use it all here in America,” Kubik said. “A lot of people around the world want our products.”

Jim Kanten, president of the Minnesota Corn Growers Association, says it’s a developing situation and producers are in a wait-and-see approach. “They are very pivotal markets,” Kanten said. “Mexico is our number one importer of US corn and then Canada is a major importer of our ethanol. We’d like to keep those markets open to keep our products moving out of this country.”

Grain futures and U.S. stock markets were lower Tuesday amid the tariff situation.

AUDIO: NCGA’s Kenneth Hartman Jr.

AUDIO: South Dakota Corn’s Trent Kubik

AUDIO: Minnesota Corn’s Jim Kanten