President Donald Trump sought to reassure U.S. agricultural producers during a roundtable at a corn and soybean farm in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, saying they should expect "very good things" within the next 90 days as costs tied to fuel and fertilizer remain high.
Speaking to farmers in the Midwest, the president predicted that the elevated input costs now burdening farming operations would decline in the coming months. He did not outline any concrete steps or detailed policy measures his administration plans to enact to address the higher operating expenses faced by growers.
Fuel and fertilizer prices have emerged as a significant challenge for the sector amid ongoing disruptions linked to the conflict with Iran. Geopolitical tensions have affected global energy and fertilizer markets, with the Strait of Hormuz cited as a focal point for shipments of crude oil and fertilizer and for related supply interruptions.
At the event, the president described recent price spikes in oil and fertilizer as artificial and said his administration was looking at methods to offset the recent increases. He reiterated his view that energy prices would come down once the issues involving Iran are resolved, but offered no timeline beyond his 90-day comment and did not provide specifics on how the federal government would intervene to reduce costs for farmers.
The visit underscored an effort by the administration to sustain support among Midwestern farmers, a politically important constituency. Producers in the region and across the country have been coping with rising operating costs, trade disruptions and weakened agricultural incomes in recent years.
Trade policy featured in the conversation. U.S. agricultural producers were hit by retaliatory measures from trading partners after the administration's tariff policies, with soybean markets singled out as particularly affected. At the Wisconsin event, the president highlighted recent talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, saying China had agreed to purchase billions of dollars of U.S. agricultural products. Separately, Beijing had previously committed to $17 billion of agricultural purchases over the next two years as part of a broader trade understanding reached last month.
Attention has also turned to tax and regulatory steps intended to bolster farm incomes. The president pointed to provisions in last years tax legislation that expanded estate tax exemptions and allowed full expensing of farm machinery, equipment and structures, measures he presented as supportive of the agricultural sector's financial footing.
Beyond crop-related pressures, U.S. agricultural officials are monitoring a livestock health concern after the parasitic New World screwworm was detected in a calf in South Texas. The discovery prompted quarantine measures and elevated worries among livestock producers about potential impacts on cattle herds.
Farmers continue to operate in a difficult environment: industry data cited at the event noted that more than 300 farm bankruptcies were recorded across the United States in 2025. The combination of higher input costs, trade frictions and persistent income pressures has contributed to financial strain for many farming operations.
While the president pledged forthcoming improvements, the lack of detailed policy commitments leaves open questions about the timing and efficacy of any federal response. For now, producers and agricultural officials are weighing both immediate challenges - such as input price pressures and disease surveillance - and longer-term considerations, including trade dynamics and the fiscal implications of tax and regulatory tools the administration points to as support measures.
Summary
President Trump told farmers at a Wisconsin roundtable that "very good things" will occur in the next 90 days to ease the burden of high fuel and fertilizer costs linked to the conflict with Iran. He offered no specific policy details, reiterated expectations that energy prices will fall when the Iran situation is resolved, and referenced trade and tax measures aimed at supporting agricultural incomes.
Key points
- Trump said U.S. farmers will see improvements over the next 90 days and that current input cost pressures should fall.
- Elevated fuel and fertilizer prices are tied to disruptions from the conflict with Iran; the Strait of Hormuz remains a key focal point for shipments.
- Trade and tax measures were highlighted as avenues of support - including Chinas agreed agricultural purchases and recent tax law provisions expanding estate tax exemptions and allowing full expensing of farm capital.
Risks and uncertainties
- Persistently high fuel and fertilizer costs driven by the conflict with Iran could continue to pressure farm operating margins - impacting the agriculture and energy-linked commodity markets.
- Ongoing geopolitical tension around the Strait of Hormuz presents a risk to crude oil and fertilizer shipments, with downstream effects on input availability and prices for farmers.
- Trade disruptions and retaliatory measures have previously hurt agricultural exports, particularly soybeans - posing continued uncertainty for farm incomes and trade-exposed sectors.