On Friday, DNC Chair Ken Martin held roundtable discussions with farmers and labor leaders in Missouri to hear their concerns about the Trump administration’s policies that have threatened their livelihoods and talk about what Democrats can do to support farmers, organized labor, and working Americans across the country. This stop in Missouri is a part of Chair Martin’s first official tour as DNC chair, during which he is traveling to blue, purple, and red states to underline his commitment for Democrats to run a permanent campaign that organizes everywhere, competes everywhere, and wins everywhere.

Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s barrage of attacks on farming and labor communities around the country — from the funding freezes, erratic trade wars, and federal government cuts — are costing farmers their livelihood. 

Between federal funding freezes, reckless trade wars, and funding cuts, Trump’s policies are leaving farmers behind. 

Nebraska Examiner: “Only 9% of bankers responding to Creighton University’s monthly ‘rural mainstreet’ survey across 10 states expect positive outcomes from Trump tariff actions, according to February results released Thursday.

“The Omaha university’s survey gauges the economic health of rural America, as seen through the eyes of bank chief executives in rural areas dependent on agriculture and energy. The survey focuses on about 200 rural communities with an average population of 1,300.”

NBC News: “Farmers around the country have been impacted by President Trump’s executive order freezing some federal funding while policies are reviewed. Grants tied to the Inflation Reduction Act are not being paid out, leaving some farmers struggling to pay their bills.”

Tennessee Lookout: “Billions of dollars at stake for farmers hit by Trump funding freeze, pause on foreign aid”

“Farmers across the United States are finding themselves in precarious economic positions, as they attempt to navigate a strained farm economy and a barrage of executive orders from the Trump administration that put some farm programs in limbo.”

Washington Post: “Republicans caught between Trump and farmers pleading for frozen funds”

“The ongoing uncertainty has disrupted the delicate balance of [Iowa farmer Shanon] Jamison’s finances for her family farm. Her USDA contract is a five-year commitment, and the cover crops she introduced with government funding have steadily increased her crop yields. All of it is in jeopardy as she charts out the next growing season.

“With the responses she has received so far, Jamison said she could only plan for the worst.

“‘I’m assuming I’m not going to get a dime,’ she said.”

DNC Chair Martin met with farmers and labor leaders in Missouri today to hear from community members impacted by Trump’s reckless policies — and to reaffirm Democrats’ commitment to fight for them. 

St. Louis Post-Dispatch: “New Democratic Party leader stops in St. Louis on national tour”

“Martin now is on a ‘get out of DC’ tour, stopping in red, purple and blue states in the Midwest and South. ‘We have to get the DNC out of DC, for our party at this moment, we have to compete everywhere,’ Martin said, at Friday stop in St. Louis.

“Martin promised to increase funding for red states in his run for party chair. BallotReady, a nonprofit group that gathers election data at all levels, found that 80% of races in Missouri were uncontested in 2024. In his run for party chair, Martin promised to prioritize competing in more races.”

St. Louis Public Radio: “Why did Democratic National Committee Chairman Ken Martin come to Missouri?”

Chair Martin: “We believe that when you organize everywhere, you can win anywhere and we want to make sure that we’re here. We’re here today, talking with farmers. We’re talking with voters throughout this tour to make sure that we’re listening and really lifting up their voices. Right now, there’s a lot of concern of what we’re seeing in Washington, D.C., and you can hear that everywhere I’ve been on this tour.

“I know that the Missouri Democratic Party has a whole plan on investing in rural counties and making sure that we’re leaving no county behind. That’s a big part of the reason why I ran for DNC chair, in acknowledgement, we have 3,244 counties in this country right now, and a lot of them don’t have Democratic Party leadership, and so we have to just get back to basics of building organization in all parts of our country, not leaving any zip code or area behind.”

First Alert 4: “New DNC Chair visits St. Louis, talks farm funding crisis and future of party”

Chair Martin: “We’re at a critical moment in this country, and what we just heard is a lot of frustration with what we’re seeing already from this administration.

“The cuts in the USAID program are going to cost farmers, and just in the Midwest alone, over $2 billion in exports, right? 

“We have an obligation to farmers and ranchers and others throughout this country to deliver on the contracts they have.

“What unites someone in a rural community with someone here in St. Louis, with someone, you know, in other parts of the country is kitchen table issues.”