“Marketplace” host Kai Ryssdal started talking with farmer April Hemmes, back in 2019 about how the first Trump administration’s tariffs affected her Iowa corn and soybean farm. Since then, she’s been affected by even more tariffs — affecting both the trade relationship with China, which has severely scaled back its purchase of American soybeans, and increasing the price of her imported inputs.
Ryssdal caught up with Hemmes on Friday to hear how the latest Supreme Court ruling, which struck down many of the Trump administration’s tariffs, will affect her farm.
“No. 1, it didn’t surprise me,” Hemmes said. “No. 2, I thought what’s this going to do to my grain markets now? And they’re not reacting.”
Hemmes doesn’t expect the Chinese market to come back to American soybeans, in part because Brazilian soybeans are cheaper than American ones. Nor does she expect today’s tariff news to lower the price of her imports.
“2026 is not looking any better, if not worse, for farmers and agriculture,” Hemmes said.
Click the audio player above to hear the conversation.
10 hours ago25:22
18 hours ago7:09
a day ago30:57
a day ago12:45
6 days ago28:44
4 months ago24:33