Trump-Voting Farmer Says Agriculture Sector in ‘Survival Mode’ Amid War and Tariffs

Matt Bell, a 52-year-old farmer in central North Carolina who supported President Trump, says the combination of escalating fuel prices and tariff policies has left the agricultural sector fighting for its life. Speaking with CBS News from his farm in Kings Mountain, Bell described a grim reality where rising operational costs are forcing some producers to consider abandoning their livelihoods.

“I’ve done this 34 years. I have never worried and stressed like I have the last year,” Bell said. “We’re all just in survival mode.”r>Bell, who cultivates over 1,000 acres of soybeans, corn, and wheat while raising beef cattle, has implemented drastic cost-cutting measures. He has altered crop rotations, extends the lifespan of aging machinery, and now produces his own fertilizer. His children have also launched an agritourism venture offering pumpkin picking and hayrides to supplement income.

Despite these efforts, Bell reports that there is “nothing left to cut.” He noted that critical inputs like diesel fuel and fertilizer cannot be eliminated. The cost of diesel, essential for all his equipment, has approximately doubled compared to last year. According to Bell, his daily fuel expense for running a combine has risen to roughly $600, more than double the previous year’s rate. He exhausted his annual $35,000 fuel budget in August and now anticipates total costs between $50,000 and $60,000.

The surge in fuel prices is largely attributed to the ongoing conflict with Iran, which has resulted in a naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and supply chain disruptions in the Red Sea. Additionally, fighting between Iran-backed Houthi rebels and Saudi Arabia, along with limited oil refining capacity due to the war in Ukraine, has further strained global supplies. National diesel averages are currently around $6.40 per gallon, with North Carolina recently hitting a record average of $6.19 per gallon.

Bell also expressed frustration with President Trump’s tariff policies, stating, “Everything we’re touching, the fertilizer, fuel, chemicals, seed, parts… everything that we touch has gone up.” While he initially welcomed a May agreement for China to purchase 25 million metric tons of U.S. soybeans annually through 2028, the deal has not alleviated his financial strain. China continues to levy a 10% retaliatory tariff on U.S. soybeans, a response to Trump’s fentanyl-related tariffs, leaving American farmers unable to raise prices to match their increased production costs.

The American Soybean Association recently urged Trump to push for the elimination of the Chinese tariff ahead of his upcoming meeting with President Xi Jinping. However, Bell feels betrayed by the administration’s economic promises.

“I think we’ve been misled,” Bell said. “We were sold a bill of goods that agriculture was going to be on the forefront… and there was going to be some policy that would put America’s farmers and ranchers first. And right now, that has not happened.”

Bell criticized the administration’s handling of the Iran war and downplayed the impact of farmer bailout programs, calling the funds insufficient. Although he identifies as a Republican, he indicated he may vote a split ticket in November in favor of candidates who offer “common sense.”

Bell emphasized that his concern is not personal wealth but the preservation of a way of life. “I do not want any Americans to feel sorry for the American farmer,” he said. “I want the Americans to be mad that we have been put in this situation. We are fighting for survival, and we’re running out of options.”

He acknowledged that he might also be forced to close his farm if conditions do not improve, noting that while money is not his primary motivation, the pride he takes in his work cannot be sustained under current economic pressures. When asked what he would do if he were no longer a farmer, Bell paused and replied, “I don’t know. It’s all I’ve ever done.”