Trump breaks promises to farmers

President Donald Trump reaped bushels of votes in rural America, but the early weeks of his second term have created worries for many ag producers and landowners.

Farmers who signed contracts to share costs for water quality improvement measures with the federal government aren’t getting paid, thanks to an executive order signed by Trump freezing federal spending.

The Iowa Soybean Association, according to the Des Moines Register, says 1,000 Midwest farmers are owed $11 million after being encouraged by federal programs to plant cover crops and other conservation projects. About $10 million is owed to Iowa producers.

Trump, the Register reports, is likely to block another $86 million to pay for adopting “climate smart” farming methods promised by the Biden Administration.

Beyond farmers, organizations that receive U.S. Department of Agriculture funding to help farmers on conservation projects also are not being paid. Some have been forced to reduce staff, according to IPR News.

At the same time, harmful tariffs remain on the horizon, potentially sparking a trade war with Mexico, Canada and China — all top markets for U.S. agricultural goods. Tariffs could worsen already tough economic conditions for farmers.

Proposed House budget also includes $320 billion in Ag Committee spending cuts. If enacted, Iowa will feel the effects.

The Washington Post reported this week that most congressional Republicans are publicly supportive of Trump and billionaire Elon Musk’s effort to slash federal spending, fire workers and eliminate some agencies. But behind the scenes, many Republican lawmakers are pleading with the administration to honor funding promises to their states.

Instead of Congress controlling the purse strings, members of Congress must go hat in hand to seek funding from the president. Budgetary checks and balances are being replaced by a patronage system where friends of Trump get funding while others don’t.

So far, Iowa’s all-Republican congressional delegation has been publicly supportive of the administration’s drive for deep budget cuts. We hope they’re also making the case Iowa contracts and payments must be honored.

But this is no way to make budget policy. Congress needs to reassert its control over the federal purse strings and force Trump and Musk to make a case publicly for pursuing a chaotic array of budget changes. If the Republican Congress sits on the sidelines at this critical moment, they may never recover the power granted to them by the nation’s Founders.

(319) 398-8262; editorial@thegazette.com