NDFB: Tariffs and Shutdown hit local farmers with double whammy
M.K. French
Farmer Staff Writer
For farmers and ranchers in McKenzie County, an economy already facing tight margins has been hit by a punishing one-two punch: the pressure of international trade tariffs and the instability of recent federal government shutdowns. In this corner of Western North Dakota, where the agricultural economy relies heavily on growing wheat, canola, and soybeans, alongside a vital cattle sector, national policy decisions are translating directly into daily financial stress and market uncertainty.
The challenges are so significant that the North Dakota Farm Bureau (NDFB) has issued a statement acknowledging the profound disruption. The core issue for McKenzie County producers isn’t just low prices–it’s the absence of reliable markets and the sudden stop of federal services. The combination of trade disruptions and government closures has eroded the confidence producers need to plan their multi-year, multi-million dollar operations.
NDFB President Daryl Lies emphasized this point in a recent statement:
“NDFB recognizes that recent federal actions, including trade policy, tariffs, and temporary government shutdowns, create uncertainty for farmers and ranchers on the ground. While many of these decisions are part of broader national discussions about security, fair trade, and long-term economic stability, we also understand the immediate challenges they bring to agricultural operations in McKenzie County, North Dakota and across the country.”
The trade tariffs, designed to secure long-term trade agreements, have created immediate winners and losers in North Dakota.
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