(AURN News) — John Boyd says he’s been farming long enough to know when something isn’t working. The fourth-generation Virginia farmer says President Donald Trump’s trade and tariff policies are devastating Black farmers and pushing small operations like his toward extinction.
“Farming is the hardest occupation known to man. It never ends,” Boyd said in an interview with AURN News. “And now, with the tariffs that the president has imposed on America’s farmers — and yes, that includes Black farmers too — all of my expenses are up.”
Boyd, who has spent decades advocating for Black farmers through his organization, the National Black Farmers Association, said fertilizer, diesel and seed prices have all climbed under the current tariff regime. Meanwhile, he said China has stopped buying U.S. soybeans altogether.
“China hasn’t ordered any soybeans since the president really ramped up his rhetoric on tariffs,” Boyd said.
He accused the Trump administration of prioritizing foreign producers over American farmers, pointing to billions in support pledged to Argentina.
“He’s really making things hard,” Boyd said. “He [Trump] says American farmers come first, but what we’re seeing is something totally different. The president’s helping foreign countries and not helping American farmers here at home.”
For Black farmers, Boyd said, the impact goes beyond economics — it’s about survival.
“We as Black farmers still have a level of trust issue with the United States Department of Agriculture,” he said.
Boyd said historic discrimination has left many Black farmers reluctant to work with the USDA and that the administration has rolled back equity programs that took decades to build.
“They’ve done away with all of the programs that I’ve worked for decades to put in place,” Boyd said. “The administration doesn’t want us — us being Black farmers — and they try to take us out first,” he claimed.
Boyd also gave the president a failing grade.
“This president gets an F-minus,” he said. “They immediately took away programs to help Black farmers. And then they said they want to do away with race-based programs.”
Boyd also accused the administration of advancing “white male dominance” in federal agriculture policy.
“They brought white farmers here to the United States solely by race,” he said, making reference to the White South Africans brought into the country by the Trump administration. “They’re giving them land and taxpayer monies – things they refused to do for Black farmers.”
Despite his anger, Boyd said he’s not afraid to speak out.
“We [Black people] had better find ourselves quickly and start doing business with each other quickly. If not, we’re going to find ourselves in a whole lot of trouble in this country.”
Boyd called the current moment more than a farming crisis.
“It’s a civil rights crisis,” he said. “This president wants white male dominance in this country, and it shows in his leadership and politics. It’s bad for America.”
He urged Americans to support Black farmers directly.
“If you know a Black farmer in your community, reach out and support them,” Boyd said.
“If they’re growing watermelons, tomatoes or grains, buy direct from these farmers. Start supporting one another.”
Click play to listen to the AURN News report from Jamie Jackson:
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