In a recent questionnaire sent out by the American Farm Bureau Federation, Presidential candidates Donald Trump and Kamala Harris' representatives laid out their candidates opposing plans, here are the main takeaways from their responses:
Topic: International Trade
Question:
As president, how would you be a proponent for expanding trade and pursuing remedies against nations and their leaders who use various barriers to unfairly shield their markets from competition?
Takeaway:
Trump emphasized his track record of renegotiating trade deals, including replacing NAFTA with the USMCA. “I will fight those barriers with every tool at my disposal,” he vowed, pledging to ensure that other countries understand the consequences of blocking U.S. farm products. Exports grew under Trump but declined under Biden.
“When China targeted our farmers, I sent $28 billion [in] relief payments to protect our farmers from Chinese abuses,” Trump recalled, referring to his administration’s response to the U.S.-China trade war. He also proposed tariffs of up to 60 percent on Chinese imports to defend U.S. agriculture against what he termed “unfair trade practices.”
Harris says she want to boost agricultural exports by fostering fair competition and expanding markets. Her responses to this question came in the form of a letter.
“As president, she will not tolerate unfair trade practices from China or any competitor that undermines American farmers and ranchers,” her letter said.
Topic: Farm Policies
Question:
As president, how would you be a proponent for enhancing farm policy programs to bring certainty to farm and ranch families through crop insurance, improved risk management programs and support for beginning farmers and ranchers, while also bringing much-needed funding to agricultural research?
Takeaway:
Trump is committed to making improvements to crop insurance, reference prices, and dairy margin coverage. He opposed state regulations like California’s Proposition 12, stating that such laws undermine interstate commerce. Trump pledged to use federal authority to block state regulations that hurt farmers in other states.
"American agriculture is built on science, technology and innovation and we must stay ahead of China with our science investments."
Harris’s plans to focus on reforming current systems and addressing what she sees as corporate consolidation in agriculture. She has supported expanding crop insurance and addressing the farm labor crisis. Harris and her running mate Tim Walz also back Biden administration initiatives that have funneled investments into rural infrastructure and energy efficiency, positioning them as part of a broader effort to modernize rural America.
Topic: Tax Policy
Question:
As president, what provisions would you support to help farmers and ranchers remain on the land and producing food, fuel and fiber?
Takeaway:
Trump defended the tax cuts enacted during his presidency, including the elimination of the estate tax, which he argued benefited family farms. He promised to make those cuts permanent.
"I will take immediate steps to defeat inflation, increase real farm incomes, and grow the agricultural economy by unleashing American energy, slashing wasteful government spending, and cutting burdensome regulation. To protect the pro-farmer tax cuts I delivered in 2017, including the elimination of the estate tax, or death tax, as well as the giant tax cut I gave to family farms that operate as pass-through entities, which produce more than 90 percent of agricultural products in the United States, I will also make permanent the provisions of the Trump Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, and pursue additional tax cuts."
Harris has proposed a change in the "death tax"—which would lower the estate tax exemption. Farmers would be caught in this because of higher land values.
"As President, Kamala Harris will fight for a tax code that is more fair for everyone...Under their plan, no American making less than $400,000 a year will pay more in taxes, and that includes most farmers and ranchers. They will also fight to make sure the ultra-wealthy pay their fair share in taxes."
Topic: Agriculture Labor
Question:
As president, what would you do to reform and resolve the critical labor shortage that many farmers and ranchers face each year? How would you address the issue of undocumented workers who are already working on farms across America, as well as the need for a reformed H-2A program that would help provide a long-term agricultural workforce?
Takeaway:
Trump proposed a more restrictive stance on immigration, vowing to prioritize American workers and overhaul the agricultural labor system through stricter enforcement. His focus remains on reducing reliance on foreign labor and rebuilding the U.S. workforce with American hands.
"A Trump Administration will always put Farmers and American Workers first. I will prioritize merit-based immigration, ensuring those admitted to our country contribute to our economy and strengthen our country."
Harris’ rep says they’ve repeatedly attempted ag labor bills but claims they have been blocked by congressional Republicans. Her plan includes an earned pathway to citizenship for farmworkers and a strengthened H-2A visa program.
"Instead of reckless calls for the mass deportation of workers and families deeply rooted in our economy and communities, Vice President Harris and Governor Walz believe in tough, smart solutions to reform our broken immigration system."
To read the full responses from both candidates, click here.
