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Fluid tariff situation complicates risk management

An extension ag economist is concerned the fluid situation with tariffs is complicating risk management for farmers.

Chad Hart with Iowa State University tells Brownfield the landscape seems to be constantly changing.

“You think back over the past month, month and-a-half, we have seen tariffs introduced and pulled back multiple times. So it’s really challenging to try to factor that into your marketing.”

He encourages farmers to continue looking for opportunities to market grain.

“Regardless of what’s driving us there. But also remembering if you will the basics of our markets, remembering when we tend to see our seasonal patterns driving our prices higher or lower.”

Hart says an implication of tariffs on key import customers of U.S. ag products is the indirect benefit to export competitors like Brazil and Argentina.