At a June 10 press conference, economic and farming leaders describe real-time fallout of rising input costs and shrinking markets.
June 11, 2025 10:25 AM
Nick Levendofsky, executive director of the Kansas Farmers Union discussed the effects of tariffs on farmers at the June 10 press conference.
(Photo: Jill Dutton)
With concern mounting over the impacts of new and expanded tariffs, small business owners, economic development leaders and farm advocates gathered June 10 at Rochester Brewing and Roasting Company to deliver a unified message: Tariffs are squeezing Kansas City’s farms, businesses and communities, and the consequences are growing.
The Trump administration’s across-the-board tariffs are fueling economic uncertainty, increasing consumer prices and leaving small businesses and consumers concerned about their future. Unpredictable trade policies are also creating supply instability and forcing business owners and farmers to rethink their business plans. The result is a growing sense of pessimism across industries, with concerns mounting over long-term economic stability, according to a news release.
“These tariffs mean higher costs and lower prices,” Levendofsky said. “That’s a formula for family farms going under.”
At the forefront of the press conference were Nick Levendofsky, executive director of the Kansas Farmers Union, and Melissa Miller, director of the World Trade Center, Kansas City. They were joined by local florist Sheryl White, owner of The Fiddly Fig, and David Bulcock, general manager and managing partner of Rochester Brewing and Roasting Company.
Levendofsky laid bare the stark realities facing Kansas family farmers, describing a system in which rising tariffs increase the cost of critical farm inputs while lowering the prices they can get for their goods.
“Farmers are not price makers; they are price takers,” Levendofsky said. “They don’t get to say, ‘This is what I need for my soybeans, or this is what you’ll pay for my cattle.’ The added cost from tariffs? [They] eat that. And they’re already being crushed.”
He emphasized many farmers rely heavily on imports such as Canadian potash for fertilizer, which is now significantly more expensive under the new tariffs. A recent example he cited involved a North Dakota farmer forced to pay a 25% tariff — amounting to an extra $225,000 — on a $900,000 air seeder purchased from Canada.
“These tariffs mean higher costs and lower prices,” Levendofsky said. “That’s a formula for family farms going under.”
He also warned of an exodus from farming, as both older and younger farmers grapple with mounting financial pressure.
“I’ve had more conversations in the last few months than I can count, with farmers saying, ‘We’re done,’” Levendofsky said.
Melissa Miller, director of the World Trade Center, Kansas City spoke at the June 10 press conference.
(Photo: Jill Dutton)
From a trade and business perspective, Miller echoed these concerns, pointing to the broader instability tariffs introduce to international commerce and long-term business planning.
“Trade is a critical component of the Kansas City regional economy,” Miller said, whose organization supports area businesses navigating global markets, adding that Kansas City is currently the 40th largest U.S. metropolitan exporter, with over $10.6 billion of goods exported — most of which goes to our top three export markets of Canada, Mexico and China, respectively.
“But right now, the No. 1 thing we’re hearing is frustration — about unpredictability and lack of a consistent tariff policy,” she said.
Citing examples from the fireworks industry, Miller described how tariffs can swing wildly from 5% to 200% and back again in the course of a few months, leaving businesses scrambling. She noted that many are now exploring alternate sourcing from Canada or Mexico, when possible, but in some sectors, that’s simply not an option.
“These impacts are real, and they’re already hitting Kansas City businesses — from beverages and clothing to cosmetics and agriculture,” she said. “But to our business community, the message is: You are not alone. We’re here to help.”
The florist and brewery owners also shared how tariffs are influencing their supply chains and operating costs, underscoring the widespread nature of the issue.
Bulcock discussed the effects of aluminum and steel prices for the brewery, purchased from China, and compared it to previously purchasing a truckload of cans to now purchasing pallets.
White discussed how The Fiddly Fig is affected, saying the majority of flowers are sourced from other countries, plus the burden of baskets and ornamental items are coming from China. She gave the example of previously paying $3.95 for a basket that now costs $8.
The press conference served as a call to action for policymakers to reconsider the use of tariffs as a tool — and for the public to understand the real-life implications on local farms and businesses.
“Farmers don’t want aid,” Levendofsky said. “They want trade. They want good markets and fair prices. Without that, we risk losing the next generation of Kansas farmers.”
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