BROWN COUNTY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Life on Wisconsin farms go on, despite all the talk about the Trump administration threatening to impose new tariffs on Mexico, as early as next week.
“The tariffs are really impacting, in a roundabout way, the milk prices as well as commodity prices for us, and that does impact what we make on a daily basis,” said Ashley Claussen.
She’s a first generation farmer in Denmark.
Claussen says while tariffs might be a burden on farmers like herself, it’s a burden that is necessary.
While some believe the tariffs are hurting American agriculture, she tells FOX 11 that blame is misplaced.
“Ending the tariffs are not going to help us in the long run either because that’s the boat we’ve already been floating in. So if something doesn’t change the were just going to be stuck where we always have been.”
Wisconsin farmers are already dealing with tariffs imposed on China by the Trump administration.
China retaliated with tariffs of its own. Trump then offered aid to help farmers.
Both Wisconsin’s senators agree that’s not what Wisconsin farmers want.
“I know that our farmers don’t want aid they want fair trade,” said Democratic Senator Tammy Baldwin.
“To farmers’ credit, they really do want trade they don’t want aid,” Republican Senator Ron Johnson said.
But Juan Robles, a farmer in Kewaunee, says this is the time farmers need help from the government the most.
“What we need here is help with the prices because if they don’t pay for the milk who’s going to pay for it? You know the cows don’t pay for themselves.”.
While tariffs imposed by the president directly impact dairy farmers in Wisconsin, One farmer says it’s the best option.
“I think in the long run it’s going to be positive for us, you know, working these tariffs out that’s what we need,” said Jeremey Zirbel.
He owns the DenMar Acres farm in Greenleaf.
While he admits that tariffs can have a negative impact early on, Zirbel tells FOX 11 that won’t be the case if the U.S can reach a fair trade agreement.
“Early on I think it’s not helping real fast. But I think what he’s doing with the tariffs is definitely the right move for dairy.”
