‘Just need a fair chance’: Valley farmers stay positive as some Trump tariffs hit

FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – As some tariffs on products from Mexico and Canada were paused or reduced by the Trump Administration this week, farmers in the Central Valley continue to look toward the future.

They say there is some optimism to be had that the full 25% tariff on all products won’t take effect for at least a month, but still, they say there’s a lot of uncertainty ahead.

“Worst case scenario is my fertilizer prices go up and my income goes down. That’s the worst-case scenario we’re looking at here,” said Farmer Paul Betancourt, who has an almond-growing operation in Kerman.

That fear expressed by Betancourt is one likely shared by many Central Valley growers.

As he described, fertilizer costs could rise. It’s because a key tariff of 10% remains in place on potash from Canada, a main ingredient in the essential plant food. It’s down from 25% initially promised, but it’s a number that may still hurt.

“When it comes to the input side and for what we use here on the farm, those experiencing some significant cost rises would be obviously concerning,” said Ryan Jacobsen, CEO of the Fresno County Farm Bureau.

What could hit home hardest though, would be if retaliatory tariffs remain from other nations.

“About 40% of our total products are actually exported. That means exported to a country other than domestically used here in the U.S., our two largest trading partners are Canada and Mexico. But we also have a lot of a lot of Pacific Rim countries. China, India, and so, there’s always this domino effect,” said Jacobsen.

But still, he and others like Betancourt remain hopeful and positive the current administration’s trade tactics will pay off for farmers selling goods outside the country now and in the future.

“There’s 400 crops grown commercially within an hour of where we’re standing. There’s nowhere else in North America that does that. So we can really succeed in a global market, and we just need a fair chance at it,” said Betancourt.

As for tariffs not currently active or reduced, the Trump Administration says for now that the pause will end on April 2.