Trump addresses farm issues during Wisconsin stop – Brownfield Ag News
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Trump addresses farm issues during Wisconsin stop
By Filed Under: 2026 Events, Ag Policy, Ag Policy, News, Wisconsin
Farmers talked about trade, labor, prices, and what’s been done so far during President Trump’s visit to a Wisconsin farm Friday.
The President touted his administration’s achievements before a panel of farmers and agribusiness representatives addressed key ag issues.
Steve Rooney with Rooney Grain told Trump the monopolization of inputs is a real problem for agriculture. “At this point, there’s four seed and chemical companies in the country that control 78% of that, three fertilizer companies that control 90% of the market, and four beef companies that control 85% of the beef market. That makes it really tough for us.”
The President says help might be coming to farmers dealing with high input costs. “What happened to you is artificial, with the energy and the fertilizer, so we’re looking at something.”
Host farmer Ken Custer told the President farmers need expanded commodity markets. “It’s all we need. We can compete with anybody in the world. We need fair trade.”
On trade, Trump says, “We’ve increased your sales 41% to Japan, 48% to the Middle East, 61% to European Union, 63% to South Asia, and 85% to Australia, so you’re doing pretty well, and you’re going to see it, you’re going to see it a lot better in about three months from now.”
And on trade with China, Trump says, “I came back from President Xi, and he’s buying billions and billions of dollars worth of soybeans and other things, and you’re starting to see that startig to kick in.”
Chippewa Falls farmer Dennis Hawkins says farms continue to have labor shortages. “I would like to hear of ag labor reform. We need workers that are willing to work.” And, Hawkins says the cost of fuel is affecting everything. “Everything is affected by fuel, right? Everything that gets delivered, trucking surcharges, basically, anything we use is up.”
Dairy farmer Syndney Flick tells Brownfield times are tougher now with tight margins. “As a dairy farmer, prices are not rebounding as fast as they normally do. Pair that with some high input costs, grain markets that aren’t great. At least we do have high beef prices.”
Trevor Baier is a sixth-generation dairy farmer in southern Dunn County near Elmwood. He tells Brownfield it’s good that farmers are being heard. “We’re all kind of feeling uneasy, but I’m really hoping some good things are here to come, and that’s kind of what they’re promising. Let’s hope that they deliver.”
President Trump made several comments about how things will be much better in about three months. Baier is hopeful Trump’s three-month target for improving prices includes additional dairy export markets. “Really, it’s going to affect our dairy markets. If we can get them prices up, that’s really where it will hit our pockets the best. If we can start getting some trade deals done with dairy, I think that’s where we’re really going to benefit on our side of things as dairymen.”
Randy Koller tells Brownfield like other farmers, he’ll be watching to see if the President can move the needle on several key issues in the three-month target he set. “I like what I hear. Now, it has to come all to action.”
President Trump, Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins, Wisconsin Senator Ron Johnson, Congressmen Tom Tiffany and Derrick Van Orden, former football player Joe Thomas, and Olympic gold medal speedskater Jordan Stolz joined farmers Friday at Custer Farms west of Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin.
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