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Seed industry feeling pressure from tariffs

Tariffs are having an impact on the seed industry.

Andy LaVigne is the president and CEO of the American Seed Trade Association and says, “When we move seed from one season to another country for another season’s production – and bring it back to the U.S. – we’re paying a tariff on that seed coming back.”

According to ASTA, international trade of planting seed plays a fundamental role in seed production and crop research and development, and tariffs have created uncertainty and significantly increased costs facing U.S. seed companies.

He tells Brownfield it’s having a negative impact on efficiency.

“We’re trying to get three cycles of production in each year. That enables us to bring new varieties to the marketplace. If we can’t do that, it’s going to take us even longer to bring products into the marketplace.”

LaVigne says ASTA has been calling on the Trump administration to eliminate tariffs on planting seeds so that the U.S. remains globally competitive and can deliver the most innovative crop varieties to U.S. farmers.

LaVigne spoke to Brownfield at the NAFB’s 2026 Washington Watch.

Andy LaVigne: