Some in the U.S. farm industry are alarmed by Trump's embrace of RFK Jr. and tariffs

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: NPR

November 17, 2024 6:00 AM ET



President-elect Donald Trump won farm country by wide margins in this month's election, with rural voters helping fuel his return to the White House. But some farmers, economists, analysts and others in the agriculture industry are voicing alarm over Trump plans that could disrupt America's $1.5 trillion food industry. Trump moved this past week to put Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in charge of the Department of Health and Human Services, which includes the Food and Drug Administration. A nomination requires confirmation by the U.S. Senate.

In a column published on Friday, soybean farmer Amanda Zaluckyj called the choice "a literal middle finger to agriculture, which constituted a key piece of Trump's base." Writing in the trade journal Ag Daily, she described Kennedy as "an absolute danger" to the American farm industry. "He has gone as far as saying he would 'weaponize' regulatory agencies to eliminate the use of pesticides," Zaluckyj said, adding that Kennedy has "voiced strong opposition to the scientific consensus" on farm industry practices. Zaluckyj isn't alone in raising questions about Kennedy's role.

In an essay published in September, before Kennedy was named to head HHS, biotech analyst Dana O'Brien described Trump's "embrace" of Kennedy as "a threat to American agriculture." "The elevation of Kennedy by Trump is chilling," O'Brien wrote in the online trade journal Agri-Pulse. "It represents a wholesale shift in politics and farm policy."

Kennedy has a long track record voicing conspiracy theories, including baseless claims that Wi-Fi causes cancer and "leaky brain"; that school shootings are attributable to antidepressants; and that chemicals in water can lead to children becoming transgender. Some agriculture experts worry similar unproven or unscientific views could now reshape U.S. farm and food policy.

Read more: https://www.npr.org/2024/11/17/nx-s1-5193867/farmers-agriculture-experts-reaction-trump-rfk-jr-tariffs

[elleng]

1. Only SOME???

[sboatcar]

7. Some people don't realize there's a storm coming

until the tornado has swept away their house.

[LonePirate]

2. Perhaps if rural America hadn't voted almost unanimously for him there would be no concern.

FAFO!

[republianmushroom]

3. What cabbage leaf were they under for the last 6 months or more ?

[Lovie777]

4. Alarmed?.......

🙀

[kimbutgar]

5. Well you people voted for him and now you are going to face the consequences.

[Journeyman]

6. You'd think of anyone, the farm industry would understand "the chickens come home to roost" . . .

it's not like any of the cray-cray wasn’t on display for all to see who had eyes to see.

Nimrods.

Be sure to tell ’em: "I hope all that’s coming impacts you and yours most of all," then listen to them stew and moan and deflect on how you’re wishing ill omens on their children, the same ill omens for which they themselves voted. Of course, they either didn’t realize or chose to ignore how the leopards they voted for circled hungrily all around them.

Dipwads.

Talk about leaning into your stereotypes.

[bronxiteforever]

8. Oh well

[Dan]

9. Well, since they believe that Trump has been sent to them by God

I would just say, God moves in mysterious ways…

[travelingthrulife]

10. Welp. He told you he was going to do these things over and over.

He told you he was going to tear apart HHS, FDA, etc. He even told you he would put Bob in charge of decimating that department.

He told you about the tariffs over and over again. He just did it to you less than a decade ago and it nearly wiped you out.

You voted for him anyway.

[Irish_Dem]

11. Before the election, Trump said RFJjr would be a part of his government.

Why are they acting surprised now?

[FakeNoose]

12. Chump also said he'd get rid of all the cheap farm labor

... namely the migrant workers. Once again the idiot red states voted against their OWN interests.

[Irish_Dem]

13. Turkeys voting for Thanksgiving.

[4catsmom]

14. buyer's remorse farmers?

you broke it now you gotta buy it

[NNadir]

15. Fuck around and find out.

[slightlv]

16. hmmm... something about leopards and face eating rings here... /nt

[LudwigPastorius]

17. Dumbasses