President Donald Trump’s unpredictable tariff policies and spending cuts have caused significant distress among farmers, many of whom supported him in the 2024 election. West Virginia farmer Jennifer Gilkerson shared her struggles with NBC News, explaining how budget reductions to a key USDA program left her with thousands of dollars’ worth of unsold freeze-dried fruits intended for local schools. ‘We’re just in such a state of shock,’ she expressed. ‘Everyone thinks all farmers voted for this, but we did not vote for this.’ Meanwhile, Iowa farmer Bob Hemesath voiced concerns about the long-term effects of trade wars with major trading partners, stating, ‘I hope he’s correct, but my fear is that once you lose those markets to other suppliers, it’s very hard to get them back.’ Chuck Conner, head of the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, warned that nations targeted by Trump’s tariffs have retaliated by focusing on ‘our soft underbelly,’ which are food exports. ‘That has always been the case, and that is the case this time around on steroids,’ he cautioned.