Tangle PREVIEW - Will Kaback talks with Claire Carlson about how farmers are impacted by the government shutdown and trade wars.
Nov 15, 2025
Claire Carlson, a Daily Yonder reporter specializing in agriculture, discusses the severe impacts of government shutdowns and trade wars on farmers. She highlights how closures and staff layoffs disrupt critical services and payments, exacerbating existing challenges. Carlson also explains how tariffs, especially those affecting soybeans, squeeze profits while driving up input costs. With farmers calling for clearer communication amid uncertainty, the conversation sheds light on the hidden struggles within American agriculture.
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Shutdown Multiplied Seasonal Uncertainty
- The government shutdown amplified preexisting farm problems by closing USDA and NRCS offices during critical planning season.
- Farmers couldn't access in-person help or verify grants and contracts, creating broad uncertainty about payments and programs.
Conservation Programs Support Long-Term Soil Health
- NRCS funds conservation programs like solar projects, wetland protection, and no-till practices that improve soil and ecosystem health.
- Delays or cuts to these programs threaten long-term soil stability and increase erosion risks on farms.
Policy Shifts Are Eroding Conservation Funding
- Many conservation initiatives trace to the Inflation Reduction Act and are now targeted for reversal by the Trump administration.
- Policy shifts since earlier this year have already cut staff and funding, compounding shutdown effects.