Farmers struggle to cover expenses | Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

For nearly 16 years, Iowa farmer Wendy Johnson has tried to build a resilient operation with diversified crops and livestock, direct-to-consumer sales, organic acreage and low debt. Yet a new shock is undoing those precautions. U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs and his war with Iran are driving up the cost of fertilizer, fuel and machinery while weak crop prices make it harder to cover rising expenses. Johnson, a fourth-generation farmer, estimates her profits are down by as much as 50% and fears another farm crisis could hit rural communities. She says farmers want relief from Washington, but the federal farm bill is outdated and Congress remains divided on replacement.