LETTER: Grothman betrayed farmers hurt by Trump’s policy errors

To Ozaukee Press:

It is no surprise to Wisconsin farmers that Trump‘s policies have hurt us, including immigration, trade, the war in Iran and decimated U.S. Department of Agriculture  staffing that can no longer provide loans committed to farmers. Glenn Grothman has supported these policies without fail. The question is whether we will do anything about it.

Republicans have hurt dairy farmers. Trump’s tariffs brutalized our markets and prices. Immigration policies took away long-term, loyal workers.

Republicans have hurt beef producers, importing beef hoping temporarily lower consumer prices will get them re-elected, ignorant of the fact that importing beef will depress rebuilding the domestic herd essential to lower prices long-term.  Republicans have hurt grain and produce farmers. The Iran war has spiked the cost of diesel fuel and fertilizer to unprecedented levels as we continue the harvest.

  Farmers are losing money three years in a row, through no fault of their own.

How can we succeed with Republican policies that simultaneously create higher input costs and depress prices by tariffs.

    These policies make it much more difficult for Wisconsin farms to remain profitable and keep farms in the family.  They cause the next generation to question whether there is a reason to stay.

We helped elect Glenn Grothman. Is he helping us? Republicans think handouts will win our vote. We only ask for policies that allow our success. It is time for rural Wisconsin to assess our historical support for Republicans.

Brad Smith understands farm issues firsthand, based on his family connection to farming. He will fight for reliable farm labor, fair markets and prices that strengthen family agriculture, rather than destabilize it, as Grothman has done. Don’t we need that change?

Julia Peck

Mequon