Farming, we love this life. No matter what type of farmer you are, we all know how tough it can be to live the farming life. From unpredictable weather, markets we have no control over, input cost increases, equipment breaking down, exhaustion, and now tariffs — the U.S. agriculture system is entering a crisis not unlike what plagued us in the 1980s.

My family lives and farms in Yellow Medicine County in west-central Minnesota. We’ve seen firsthand how the compounding effects of years of increased input costs and loss of markets are forcing many farm families to ask themselves how much longer they can continue.

As a farmer and a board member of the Land Stewardship Project, I know what these farmers are feeling, and that the situation we’re in makes crystal clear that the time to double down on creating a more fair, sustainable, and resilient farm and food system is right now. And we need your voice to help make that happen!

We know those families hit the hardest by the current crisis are those who have small to medium-sized operations and who are stuck in a system designed to benefit the biggest of the big. These smaller farmers are the ones that support their communities, bolster the local schools, and volunteer, as well as purchase their seed, gas, equipment, and feed locally.

Unfortunately, current tariffs and the trade war are resulting in farmers needing to downsize or sell out. And if that happens, their land will not go to a family member or another small farmer; it will go to the biggest operators in the county who don’t live in the community and purchase everything in bulk from companies hundreds of miles away. And who knows if that farm family that worked and cared for that land will be able to stay in the community or rather will need to move to find other employment, further hollowing out our rural towns?

What can we do to keep small and medium-sized farmers on the land and create opportunities for the future?

We need our elected and appointed representatives in Washington, D.C., to step up and work with farmers to solve this crisis. Tariffs are not the solution; the damage has already been done, which is why a bailout is on the horizon. Farmers want to sell the crops they raise for a fair price, and the idea that a check from the government will make it all better is not a real solution in the long term.

At the Land Stewardship Project, we know we need to be investing in reliable alternative and local markets, supporting the next generation of independent farmers, and rewarding farmers who are doing the right thing by the land and water. We need to lift up the positive economic impacts small and medium-sized farms bring to our communities.

That’s where you come in. No matter what your role is in our farm and food system, government decision-makers (even during the government shutdown) need to hear from you. Please take five minutes today to take action on these three important issues:

• Action Alert: Tell your elected representatives that tariffs and bailouts are not an agriculture policy and to invest in a more resilient farm and food system.
• Action Alert: Support market access for farmers — fund local food purchasing.
• Action Alert: Protect local control and include farmer voices in conservation of our water and working lands.

I also want to share a few farmer-specific resources:

• If you are a farmer feeling the impacts of the current market conditions, LSP wants to hear from you. You can fill out this quick survey or reach out to LSP to talk with one of our staff.
• Minnesota Farm Advocates provides one-on-one assistance for Minnesota farmers who face crisis and stress caused by either a natural disaster or financial problems.
• Watch “Untangling Trade,” a recorded webinar from LSP and our partners at Campaign for Family Farms and the Environment, to gain an understanding of recent changes in the agricultural trade situation.

We will need to work together — no matter our backgrounds, zip codes, or political stripes — because losing small and medium-sized farm families is a tragedy we can’t afford.

P.S. One more way you can act on your values right now is by becoming a member of the Land Stewardship Project with a tax-deductible contribution. If you are already a member, introduce LSP to your friends and family, re-up your membership for another year, or consider a special gift above your membership dues. Learn more about why LSP membership matters here!

LSP board member Laurie Driessen and her family raise crops and livestock near Canby in southwestern Minnesota and she has spent several decades advocating for providing quality services to individuals with disabilities and the elderly.