Minnesota Farmers Struggle Amidst Tariff Policy Endorsed by Rep. Brad Finstad
Rep. Brad Finstad has shown support for President Donald Trump’s tariff strategy, despite its significant impact on Minnesota’s agricultural sector. The tariffs, enacted last year, led to increased costs for essential farming inputs like fertilizer and machinery, affecting local farmers’ livelihoods.
The tariffs, which were broadly applied to imports from numerous countries, resulted in a notable price surge for these critical resources. Although the U.S. Supreme Court invalidated the tariffs in February, costs have remained high, posing ongoing challenges for farmers.
Fifth-generation farmer Matt Purfeerst, based in Finstad’s district, directly experienced the repercussions. In October 2025, he shared with the Guardian the difficulties brought on by the tariffs, which introduced volatility in the soybean market and made it “extremely challenging” for family farms to succeed.
The situation has further deteriorated, with Ryan Mackenthun, vice president of the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association, expressing concerns to KSTP in March. He warned that “farmers might not be able to survive this for too long.” According to a CBS News report in April, some farmers opted to skip planting season to cut costs.
The war in Iran has further complicated the situation, causing shipping disruptions that have escalated fertilizer prices.
In April 2025, shortly after the tariff imposition, Finstad was questioned about their impact on fertilizer costs. He expressed optimism, suggesting that the difficulties would be short-lived. “In the short term, there’s a lot of uneasiness and unknowns,” he stated. “That is tough to navigate, but it’s my hope we’ll come through this with better trade partners.”
Despite the adverse economic effects, Finstad continued to defend the tariffs. In an August 2025 meeting with small business owners, he acknowledged the “disruption and uncertainty” caused by Trump’s policy, yet emphasized Trump’s role as “the ultimate disruptor in chief.”
“There’s a certain amount of resetting the depth that’s happening, and that has caused short-term uncertainty,” Finstad commented. “I completely am sympathetic and aware, because we all feel and see it.”
Finstad reiterated these sentiments later that year, addressing a group of community leaders in his district. He noted the tariffs had led to “uncertainties in the marketplace” but also prompted negotiations for improved trade agreements.
In a February interview on the Made in Minnesota podcast, Finstad maintained, “The big lever of tariffs that the president pulled created a little bit of instability and uncertainty in the short term, but what it did is it brought people to the table and we’re seeing opportunities we haven’t seen before.”
In Congress, Finstad has consistently voted to uphold Trump’s tariffs, and opposed measures to terminate the war in Iran. As he seeks re-election for a third term, his Democratic opponent will be determined in the upcoming August 11 primary.
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