President Donald Trump returned to the White House for his second term taking the oath of office inside the Capital. 

He moved on campaign promises shortly after - signing executive orders rescinding actions taken by President Joe Biden. Among them were a withdrawal from the Paris Climate Accord and freezing most federal hiring.

Once back in the Oval Office, the president addressed immigration – declaring a national emergency on the U.S. / Mexico border calling for more barriers and an increased crackdown on undocumented immigrants. 

Brooke Rollins was at her confirmation hearing that same week, facing questions from lawmakers. Her approval as Secretary of Agriculture would come shortly after the hearing ended. 

Tariffs would be the tool of choice for the president, as various duties were slated to be levied on countries all over the world. 

President Donald J. Trump: “The tariffs will go on — agricultural product coming into America and our farmers starting on April 2, may be a little bit of an adjustment period.”

Major trading partners Canada, Mexico and China would be at the forefront of the strategy for much of 2025. Each country would counter with tariffs or policy changes of their own. Again, farmers were watching the action to see how it would impact trade relationships and sales with major global customers. 

President Donald Trump: “And today we're standing up for the American worker, and we are finally putting America first."

In early April, the Trump Administration placed tariffs on imports from virtually every country on the planet, at rates higher than the infamous Smoot-Hawley tariffs of 1930.

Trade analysts estimated up to 68% of goods imported into the United States fell under the new tariff plan. Economists were estimating the cumulative cost of tariffs could act like a $3,800 dollar tax on each U.S. household annually. 

By May, The U.S. and China reached a deal to cut tariffs for 90 days while continuing to negotiate a long term trade pact.

Terrence Guay, Pennsylvania State University: “So it may be the case where tariffs are just a lot less than they were initially, which both countries can, can claim as a win.”

At the end of October, a breakthrough.

Donald Trump, U.S. President: "Large amounts, tremendous amounts of the soybeans and other farm products are going to be purchased immediately, starting immediately. If you notice, President XI authorized yesterday for China to start."

The details of this announcement included a promise by China to buy 12 million metric tons of soybeans in the final months of 2025, and a minimum of 25 million metric tons annually for the next three years. 

If realized, the deal would return Chinese soybean purchases to near the average of 26.6 million metric tons the country imported annually between 2011 and 2024. China purchased 27 million metric tons of soybeans in 2024. 

Several courts would hear arguments on  trade and rule in various ways in 2025. 

The U.S. Supreme Court heard a case on the legality of the new tariffs in November. A ruling has yet to be issued and is slated for a 2026 release.   

The Trump White House has repeatedly vowed to make farmers whole as they wait for exports to pick up. 

Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins suggested in early December the long-discussed financial relief at a cabinet meeting. 

Sec. Brooke Rollins, USDA: “The bridge that is needed to get from the last administration and what basically happened under the last president and the last US Department of Agriculture to this new golden age for farmers where instead of farming for government checks, they can farm to feed their family and sell their products and pass it on to the next generation. That this bridge is absolutely necessary based on where we are, right now.”

The next week, the White House announced the bridge payment plan to assist farmers who have lost income due to trade disruptions caused by higher tariffs.

The bulk of the $12 billion dollar package is targeted at the major commodities: wheat, corn, soybeans, cotton, peanuts and rice. $1 billion of that fund has been reserved for specialty crops. This is the highest single year of relief payments for farmers since 1933.

Another priority of the Trump Administration was addressing foreign sources of labor and immigration.

In July,  Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins promised to find a balance between deporting undocumented farmworkers while not disrupting the agricultural supply chains they support.

Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins: “Ultimately, the answer on this is automation. Also some reform within the current governing structure. And then also when you think about, there are 34 million able-bodied adults in our Medicaid program. There are plenty of workers in America, but we just have to make sure we're not compromising today, … So no amnesty under any circumstances. Mass deportations continue, but in a strategic and intentional way, as we move our workforce toward more automation and toward a 100% American workforce.” 

The Make Our Children Healthy Again Strategy Report was released by the White House in September after months of work. The document was promoted as the final outline of Federal actions to improve the health of America’s children. 

Vince Haley, Director of the Domestic Policy Council: “Today's report outlines a bold framework to improve children's health through 128 targeted directives and strategies."

In a departure from the preliminary assessment issued in March, the report avoided recommending limits on pesticide use in agriculture. 

Weather again played a role in rural America as tornadoes ushered in the new year with a large blast of winter to end it.

In the middle, ideal rain fell for many in the Grain Belt before a late season drought arrived, limiting a large harvest of corn and soybeans. 

Cattle prices held at record highs for much of 2025 as years of drought reduced herd sizes forcing ranchers to liquidate their animal assets. High demand at the grocery counter along with a closed Mexican border due to an outbreak of the New World Screwworm added to price pressure. The president pledge to help cut high prices at the grocery store by increasing ground beef imports from Argentina. 

And we celebrated the end of our 50th season in various ways that included live tapings of the MtoM podcast at various locations across rural America and ended with a gathering of analysts for panel discussion at the end of the tour.

contact: paul.yeager@iowapbs.org