Caught in the Crossfire: Farmers Pay the Price for Policy and Trade Spats

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Caught in the Crossfire: Farmers Pay the Price for Policy and Trade Spats

In this week’s episode, Tracy sits down with journalist and author Brian Reisinger to discuss one of the most pressing — yet overlooked — issues in agriculture today: how farmers continually get caught in the crossfire of government policy, global trade, and economic upheaval.

Brian is the author of the powerful book Land Rich, Cash Poor: My Family's Hope and the Untold History of the Disappearing American Farmer, which traces the historical and ongoing struggles of farmers against a backdrop of political decisions that too often leave them behind.

From the trade wars and tariffs of today to policy decisions made over a century ago, Tracy and Brian explore the deep and often devastating connection between government policy and farm economics. They unpack how the American farmer has repeatedly gotten the short end of the stick—despite feeding the world.

🌾 In This Episode, You'll Hear About:

• How the 1910s pushed farmers into financial stress—well before the Great Depression

• The impact of the 1930s Great Depression and Dust Bowl on American agriculture

• The 1940s & 50s shift toward urbanization and technological change, and what it meant for rural communities

• The real story behind the 1970s and 80s farm crisis—and how it started long before the 1980s

• Today’s challenges: tariffs, trade wars, consolidation, and economic uncertainty

• How the Great Recession and a focus on mass production diverted agriculture from value-added opportunities

• Brian’s insights on how farmers can reclaim some control over their future

Whether you’re in agriculture or just want to understand the real cost of policy decisions on rural America, this episode is rich in history, insight, and urgency.

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🔗 Links & Resources:

 Tracy’s first interview with Brian about his book:
 Land Rich, Cash Poor: My Family's Hope and  the Untold History of the Disappearing American Farmer | Episode 254
 https://www.farmmarketer.com/Resources/ResourceItem?resourceItemId=526



 Land Rich, Cash Poor by Brian Reisinger
 https://www.amazon.com/Land-Rich-Cash-Poor



🤝 Connect with Brian Reisinger https://www.brian-reisinger.com

👀 Follow the show for more deep dives into rural issues, agriculture, and policy

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* Disclaimer - As always, this information is not intended to provide business or medical advice. To ensure that your own circumstances have been properly considered and that action is taken based on the latest information available, you should obtain professional advice from qualified business or medical professionals before acting on any of the information in this post.
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Show Guest

Brian Reisinger
Award-Winning Writer, Rural Policy Expert, Speaker, and Consultant

Brian Reisinger grew up on a family farm in Sauk County, Wisconsin and lives to tell the hidden stories of rural America. An award-winning writer, rural policy expert, speaker, and consultant, Brian worked with his dad on the farm from the time he could walk. His book Land Rich, Cash Poor tells the story of the disappearing American farmer, weaving the forgotten history of an issue affecting every dinner table with his own family’s four-generation fight for survival.

Brian has given a TEDx talk on risks to our food supply, and appeared on C-SPAN’s “Washington Journal,” CNN, public radio, farm radio, and other news outlets across the political spectrum. He’s been published in USA Today, Newsweek, Yahoo News, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, PBS Wisconsin/Wisconsin Public Radio’s “Wisconsin Life”, Game & Fish magazine, The Daily Yonder, RealClearPolitics, The Hill, Saving Country Music, and elsewhere. Brian’s writing has won awards from the National Society of Newspaper Columnists, first place in the Seven Hills Literary Contest, a Solas Award, and more.

Brian worked as a journalist covering economic upheaval, then a speechwriter and strategist on Capitol Hill and across the country. Today, alongside independent writing and speaking engagements, he works at Platform Communications, a Midwestern-based consulting firm. He lives with his wife and daughter, splitting time between northern California near his wife’s family, and his family’s farm in southern Wisconsin.

Connect with Brian Reisinger - Website / Facebook / Instagram / X / LinkedIn

Learn more about Brian Reisinger

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The Impact Farming Show

Welcome to Impact Farming, Farm Marketer's video and audio show dedicated to helping Canadian farmers excel in the business of farming. Our goal with this show is to introduce our audience to the people and ideas that are going to make an IMPACT on their farming operation. 

Show Host - Tracy Brunet
CEO of Farm Marketer 

Tracy and her husband are cattle ranchers in South East, Manitoba. As host of the show, primary producer and agvocate, Tracy is passionate about helping farmers succeed in the business of farming. 

In each episode, Tracy chats with today's most successful farm advisors and industry leaders to bring our audience the best and most important ideas. 

Connect with Tracy Brunet - Twitter / Facebook / Instagram / Linked in

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