Farmers 4 Trump

I live in California’s San Joaquin Valley. Better known as the “breadbasket of the world” due to the fact that it’s one of the most productive agricultural regions on Earth. And while you might think California is some leftist paradise, but here we are deep in Trump country, and it’s impossible to ignore.

Lately, it’s been heartbreaking to watch small, family-run farms get crushed by the very policies many of these folks voted for. Trump’s tariffs are devastating farmers all over the country. Here in Central California, we’ve been lucky not to rely on soybeans. But in the Midwest, soybean farmers haven’t sold a single bean to China since Trump started his disastrous trade war with China and the world. That’s a huge problem, because China used to buy the overwhelming majority of all of our soybeans.

And to make things worse? China is now buying soybeans from Argentina instead. The same country the U.S. is giving a $20,000,000 bailout to! Even though we were in a government shutdown and our own farmers got nothing. That money will help Argentina compete against our farmers. We’re paying another country to beat us at our own game. The people in the White House either didn’t think it through, or just didn’t care. Either way, it’s a disaster. How do I know that’s what’s happening, they said it themselves!

As I drive past miles of farmland and see signs that say “Farmers for Trump,” I wonder how they’re feeling now. Do they still believe he’s helping them? I hope they get the support they need, and fast. Big industrial farms will survive, they are happy to see small family farms fail, with their government money and deals. But small farmers? They’re on their own.