Stop Hypocrisy in Trade Policy: Protect Family Farms from Corporate Takeover

I write to you today as a concerned constituent deeply worried about the future of family farms in America. The collapse in U.S. exports of soybeans and beef to China, triggered by the Trump administration’s tariff policies, is inflicting real harm on our agricultural sector. What concerns me even more is the possibility that this damage is not just a byproduct of poor policy but part of a system designed to push family farms into bankruptcy—leaving them vulnerable to takeover by investment firms. The Vice President’s financial ties to AcreTrader, a company that profits from acquiring farmland and leasing it back, only deepen the appearance of hypocrisy and conflict of interest. Under current policies, U.S. beef exports to China have plunged from roughly $120 million per month to only a fraction of that as permits lapse and retaliatory measures escalate. Soybean shipments, once a cornerstone of our agricultural exports, have also collapsed, with farmers left holding unsold crops and plummeting prices. These blows land hardest on small and mid-sized operations that already operate on razor-thin margins, pushing many to the brink. Meanwhile, AcreTrader and similar firms stand to benefit from this crisis. Struggling farms become ripe targets for acquisition, consolidating land ownership under investors while turning independent operators into renters. For policymakers to craft trade policies that weaken family farms while having personal financial stakes in companies poised to profit from their decline is unconscionable. It is one thing to make mistakes in trade negotiations; it is another to allow those mistakes to translate directly into private gain. This undermines trust in government and accelerates the hollowing out of rural America. I urge you to take action: Demand full disclosure of financial holdings by the Vice President and other executive officials in firms like AcreTrader. Scrutinize trade policies not only for their economic impact but also for how they affect the survival of family farms and rural communities. Support legislation limiting predatory consolidation of farmland and protecting small farmers from being forced into sales. Push for durable trade agreements that restore access to global markets, especially for soybeans and beef. Ensure that any relief programs prioritize independent farms, not large agribusiness or speculative investors. Family farms are the backbone of this nation’s food supply, culture, and economy. Federal trade policy should protect them, not undermine them. I expect you to take a principled stand against these conflicts of interest and fight for the people who feed America.