Dear editor:

While many people across the country have been affected by the tariffs imposed by the Trump administration, the impacts on American farmers are becoming clearer every day. As the cost of equipment and parts subject to these tariffs goes up, farmers are also struggling to find buyers for their crops. Those who usually export to countries that have imposed reciprocal tariffs — such as soybean growers — are left with harvests that have nowhere to go. Although soybeans are not a major Wyoming crop, the result on farmers nationwide is being felt.

In high school, I worked on a dairy farm here in Powell, and it quickly became clear just how slim the margins are for our farmers. A good season might bring some financial progress, but a bad season can nearly destroy a family farm overnight. When a government policy like international tariffs has a direct impact on production and distribution, the real casualty is the family farm. The Trump administration’s policies are directly hitting the people in our own community — people who, in many cases, overwhelmingly voted to return that administration to the White House. I don’t think many of them foresaw the effect their ballots would have on themselves and their families.

With the cost of goods steadily rising and inflation continuing to climb, the pressure on family farms grows worse. These businesses not only support the families who run them, but also provide jobs and food that sustain our community. The heartbreaking reality is that farmers who work 14 hours a day, seven days a week to put food on all of our tables can hardly afford to keep food in their own cupboards. No one who works that hard should be forced to choose between groceries, fuel, or medical care because of unaffordable health care and insurance.

A Wyoming Public Media report recently noted that many farmers in the state are deeply concerned about tariffs, which drive up the cost of “critical supplies” while depressing the prices they receive for their crops. Farmers are, in their words, “doubly vulnerable.” Another report warned that “tariffs threaten to upend markets American farmers depend on,” pointing out that equipment costs have risen sharply, fertilizer prices have more than doubled, and many farms were already operating on thin margins before these tariffs. Wyoming economists add that trade barriers raise costs for consumers and small businesses too, widening the strain across the state.

Although many of you may not agree with my politics, I believe we share more in common than not. We all want the same things: to feed our kids, keep a roof over their heads, and take them to the doctor without piling up medical debt. We want food that is affordable, good schools for our kids, and wages that allow us to live with dignity. Supporting our farmers is part of making that possible.

Schyler Borders

Powell