Tariffs May Be Bad News for Some—But They Could Spark a Farming Comeback in Ohio

Lately, there's been a whole lot of hand-wringing over Trump’s tariffs, and sure, there’s reason to be concerned. But if you’re in farming—especially beef or sheep production—there’s a real chance these changes could work in your favor, and in Ohio’s favor, too.

For over 20 years, Ohio farmers have taken it on the chin thanks to so-called "free trade" agreements. Back in 1999, the U.S. government signed deals that sent a big chunk of our beef production off to Canada, Mexico, and Brazil. Sheep farming? That pretty much packed up and moved to New Zealand and Australia. As a result, the number of cattle and sheep producers in Ohio dropped off big time.

But with tariffs on the table, things are about to shift.

Better Prices, More Opportunity

Yeah, we’ll see beef and lamb prices go up at the grocery store at first. But here’s the bigger picture—Ohio farmers will finally get a fair shot at competing with foreign meat imports, some of which aren't up to the standards we expect here at home. I’m not talking about Canada, New Zealand, or Australia—but let’s be honest, meat from Mexico and Brazil? That’s a whole different story.

And here’s another big win: Ohio desperately needs more meat processing facilities. Right now, not every county even has one, and believe it or not, there isn’t a single medium-scale chicken processing plant in the whole state.That’s a major problem for small and mid-sized farms trying to raise and sell livestock. If these tariffs push the demand for local meat up, we could see a resurgence in meat processing plants—which means more jobs and more support for Ohio’s farm communities.

Bringing Pastures Back to Ohio

With beef and sheep making a comeback, we could see some big changes on Ohio farmland—especially in the northwest. Instead of endless fields of corn and soybeans, we might see more pastures opening up, giving farmers a chance to get back into livestock.

Down in the Ohio River Valley—from Akron to Ironton and over to Cincinnati—it’s a little trickier. A lot of the land that used to be used for sheep and dairy cows has grown up with brush. But if the market is there, folks will clear that land and put it to work again.

A New Era for Ohio Farmers

Now, let’s be clear—when prices jump, people tighten their belts. But in the long run, these tariffs could set the stage for something big in Ohio agriculture.

🐄 More young folks getting into farming
🏪 Small businesses thriving—feed stores, repair shops, butchers
🥩 Better, fresher, locally raised meat
🌾 A stronger, healthier Ohio farm economy

For years, farmers have been getting the short end of the stick. Maybe—just maybe—this could be the start of something better.