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Morning Edition
Cathy Wurzer and Gracie Stockton

Minnesota Farm Bureau president on tariffs, Trump agriculture secretary pick

A sunrise over a farm field.
The sun rises over a field with a harvester in Woodbury, Minn., on Oct. 21, 2024.
Brian Bakst | MPR News

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While in limbo for 30 days, potential tariffs on Canada and Mexico have some agriculture leaders and farmers concerned.

President Donald Trump’s 10 percent tariff on Chinese goods went into effect at midnight Monday and he reached temporary pause agreements with the president of Mexico and the prime minister of Canada. Trump said the tariffs intend to curb fentanyl coming into the U.S. from the three nations. China has already retaliated with its own tariffs.

Zippy Duvall, president of the American Farm Bureau, said Sunday her coalition supports security and fair trade, “but, unfortunately, we know from experience that farmers and rural communities will bear the brunt of retaliation. Harmful effects of retaliation to farmers ripple through the rest of the rural economy.”

Minnesota Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen posted on social media platform X that his department is assessing the impact of tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China, acknowledging their uncertainty adds to “already challenging” times for farmers.

Dairy, corn, soybean and alfalfa farmer Dan Glessing, who serves as president of the Minnesota Farm Bureau’s board of directors, told MPR News host Cathy Wurzer the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, negotiated during the first Trump administration, was a “nice template” for free trade. The concepts of set trade and tariffs concern Glessing and his peers. However, he was willing to roll the dice as farmers turned out for President Donald Trump in November.

“We knew that there was a risk,” Glessing said. “But when those calls and negotiations happened yesterday, I think that just kind of goes to show what this administration is thinking of getting people to the table and having some real conversations.”

On Monday, the Senate Agriculture Committee unanimously advanced Brooke Rollins, Trump’s pick for agriculture secretary. Glessing said he saw no red flags while watching Rollins’ confirmation hearing.

“I think she would be a good fit for farm country and rural America,” Glessing said. “From what I had heard, [she] kind of grew up through … 4-H, FFA and all of that. She had her agriculture teacher in the confirmation hearing with her, and that does speak volumes to both those organizations.”