Fellow Illinoisan,

For farmers, this year began with President Trump’s government shutdown that closed USDA offices for the longest period in history, and his third straight year of announcing USDA cuts, including a $267 billion cut to Farm Bill investments. In February, USDA testified before Congress that its own economists calculated net farm income had fallen nearly 50 percent from its Obama Administration peak in 2013.

And then there is the President’s haphazard, scorched-earth trade policy towards China, the largest market for Illinois’ agricultural products, doing damage that USDA economists say will take years to undo. Farmers across Illinois are caught in the middle.

But Illinois farmers stay strong and keep moving forward. Over the past few weeks, I visited with farmers and heard firsthand what they have to say about the President’s farm policy, unpredictable trade tactics, and their desire to get back to selling to the marketplace instead of receiving USDA aid.

In Peoria, I heard from farmers who are worried about staying viable in the global marketplace. China isn’t waiting, investing an eightfold increase in cutting-edge public sector agricultural research, while the United States has seen a steady decline in federal funding for research at the USDA. On top of the President’s ineffective tariffs, we’re also risking falling behind China in agricultural innovation - we can’t allow that trend to continue. That’s why I announced plans to introduce the America Grows Act, which will ensure that USDA has the robust federal funding it needs to make the breakthroughs and foster the innovation we need to stay competitive in the global marketplace. 

In Niantic, I held a roundtable discussion with local agricultural leaders to discuss a wide variety of issues affecting farmers. They told me that it has been a tough planting season – the near-constant rain led to rampant flooding and one of the wettest years in recent memory. Meanwhile, the President’s reckless tariffs have slammed the door outright on access to China, Illinois’ number one market for agricultural exports. His decision to engage in this trade war is putting constant and indefensible financial pressures on Illinois farmers during a particularly trying time.   

In Springfield, I celebrated Agriculture Day at the Illinois State Fair. I spent the day with the Director of the Illinois Department of Agriculture, John Sullivan, where I called upon the President to end his secretive waivers that allow oil refineries to stop blending ethanol and biodiesel into vehicle fuels. Yet, last week, the President personally approved 30 more waivers, causing several Midwestern biofuels plants to shutter, throwing many rural workers into unemployment.

In each of these meetings, I heard the same thing: thanks to a wet planting season and the President’s ineffective policies, our farmers are struggling. Ultimately, it is President Trump who must stop his harmful war on agriculture, or the economic consequences of his actions will mean more tough times ahead for farming.

Sincerely, 

U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL)