To the editor:

The Trump Administration, with Brad Finstad’s enthusiastic support, is dismantling the Department of Agriculture, hurting Minnesota farmers. New tariffs closed export markets Minnesota farmers rely on for revenue, the Iran War has caused skyrocketing operational and input costs causing farmers’ profits to fall, and reorganization at USDA is compromising research that supports agricultural innovation. Minnesota has lost1300 farms, thousands of acres of farmland have been taken out of production, and farm bankruptcies have skyrocketed. 

To further the administration’s attack on agriculture, the Trump administration is targeting the Research Extension and Education (REE) agencies of USDA. REE funded research is the foundation of U.S. agricultural innovation. Because of this research, farmers have access to high-yield, disease-resistant crop varieties, farm automation, invasive species mitigation, and other innovative agricultural tools. Additionally, REE provides technical and agricultural support to farmers and youth programs like 4-H through vast extension programs.

The Trump administration has consistently demonstrated disdain for agricultural science. Since January 2025, political appointees with no background in agriculture have been given full authority to make funding decisions at USDA. Topics like new world screwworm, irrigation management, water quality, soil health, and yield optimization previously elevated by federal scientists are now sidelined, delayed or canceled by Trump’s appointees in favor of ideologically aligned research with no benefit to farmers. Trump and enabling politicians like Finstad have dismantled agricultural science with profound impacts on Minnesota farmers.

Further compromising the integrity of agricultural research, the Trump administration is reorganizing REE agencies, forcing staff to relocate to Kansas City and other “hubs”. In 2019 a similar relocation resulted in the loss of 80% of the experienced staff and a significant disruption to agricultural research. While most REE staff are currently located near stakeholders and universities, this relocation forces staff to urban locations further from farmers and researchers.

Not only will this compromise research and innovation, this costs taxpayers millions of dollars. Farmers are already suffering from Trump’s and Finstad’s economic policies, high gas, diesel and fertilizer prices, and reduced profits. The USDA reorganization will double down on the attack on U.S. agriculture by compromising critical scientific research. 

Wendy Tuttle 

New Ulm