Michigan farmer faces bankruptcy due to funding freezes

Rebecca Carlson, who runs a 1,300-acre farm in northern Michigan, is worried about her future after Donald Trump won the presidency again. Her family has owned the farm for generations, but it has faced challenges in recent years. Rising costs for fuel and fertilizer, along with crop damage from bad weather, have made it difficult to stay afloat. Carlson was hopeful that Trump's return would improve her situation. During his first term, the prices for her main crop, cherries, went up due to reduced foreign competition. However, now her farm is facing funding freezes from the government, which has put her ability to hire seasonal workers at risk. Carlson could end up $200,000 in debt if she can't access grant money meant to help her farm. While farmers have typically supported Trump, his new policies may be causing uncertainty. Proposed tariffs might increase the cost of grains and fertilizers and decrease demand for U.S. agricultural products abroad. Additionally, immigration policies could disrupt the labor force, as about 40% of farm workers lack proper documentation to work in the U.S. Trump has spoken about helping farmers by reducing imports, but he acknowledged that there might be an adjustment period. Farmers like Carlson are left waiting for support. Carlson was counting on a $400,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to hire ten temporary workers from Guatemala. This funding, tied to a previous Covid relief package, is currently frozen, leaving farmers with uncertainty about reimbursement for expenses. Carlson described the experience as having "the rug pulled out from underneath you." With no guidance from the Department of Agriculture, she and other farmers are left in limbo. She has already spent $200,000 of her own money to prepare for the workers and fears bankruptcy without the grant support. Time is running out for her to make critical decisions about her farm's future.