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Tariff concerns heard at Farmers for Free Trade town hall in Iowa

(Photo by Brent Barnett/Brownfield)

Concerns about President Trump’s tariff strategy were outlined during a Farmers for Free Trade town hall event in Swisher, Iowa on Tuesday.

Eastern Iowa farmer Matthew Willimack is a farmer-director for the Iowa Soybean Association. He tells Brownfield he’s concerned about the long-term impact of what he calls “on-again off-again” tariffs.

“Uncertainty in the markets, lower markets, and corn and soybean (prices),” Willimack said. “This spring, I would say we weren’t necessarily heavily impacted on our input side, but for sure we will be next year if this continues.”

Brian Kuehl, executive director of Farmers for Free Trade, says uncertainty in the ag industry can be damaging.

“People need to know what the rules are and when we’ve got trade wars with all the countries around the world, it’s a hard business environment,” Kuehl said. “It’s hard for a farmer and it’s hard for an ag equipment manufacturer.”

Iowa State University ag economist Chad Hart says a lot of U.S ag prices are linked to global prices.

“If these tariffs truly do get put in place, that’s going to put a barrier between US prices and world prices,” Hart said. “That’s going to make us a lot less competitive around the globe in selling our product.”

A tariff research report from Farmers For Free Trade says that in April 2025, Iowa importers paid $80 million in tariffs stemming from executive trade actions – nearly six times the $14 million paid in April 2024.

INTERVIEW: Eastern Iowa farmer Matthew Willimack

INTERVIEW: Brian Kuehl, executive director of Farmers for Free Trade

INTERVIEW: Iowa State University ag economist Chad Hart