Stay Curious. Stay Connected.
MailNewsletters♡Donate Now
Sign up
*Password must be at least 8 characters and contain one uppercase letter, one lowercase letter, one number and one symbol.
Already have an account?
By submitting, you consent that you are at least 18 years of age and to receive information about MPR's or APMG entities' programs and offerings. The personally identifying information you provide will not be sold, shared, or used for purposes other than to communicate with you about MPR, APMG entities, and its sponsors. You may opt-out at any time clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of any email communication. View our Privacy Policy.
Sign in to your profile
Forgot Password?
New to MPR News?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Reset Password

Enter the username on file and we'll send you a code to reset your password.

Still require assistance or not sure what your User Name is?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Email Verification

A verification code has been emailed to

Still awaiting the code?
MPR News with Angela Davis
Angela Davis and Cari Dwyer
Updated:

How the Trump administration’s policies are affecting farmers

Vegetables at HAFA Farm are visible
Vegetables at the Hmong American Farmers Association farm in Vermillion Township southeast of the Twin Cities on Aug. 4, 2023.
Kerem Yücel | MPR News

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Log inCreate a free Account

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!

From tariffs to funding cuts and inflation to climate change, Minnesota farmers are dealing with a lot.

Recent directives from the Trump administration have paused federal funding on some programs that support farmers.

Meanwhile, tariffs could lower prices farmers get for their crops while increasing prices they pay to produce them.

MPR News host Angela Davis and her guests talk about how recent changes from the White House could affect Minnesota farmers.

two people posing for a portrait
Friendly Vang-Johnson (left), director of government affairs for the Minnesota Farmers’ Market Association and owner and operator of Friendly Hmong Farms, and Thom Petersen (right), commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, pose for a portrait in the Kling Public Media Center in St. Paul on Thursday.
Nikhil Kumaran | MPR News

Guests:

  • Thom Petersen is the commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. Before being appointed commissioner, he was the director of government relations for the Minnesota Farmers Union. He has spent most of his life working for a horse and farm business.  

  • Friendly Vang-Johnson is the director of government affairs for the Minnesota Farmers’ Market Association. She is the owner and operator of Friendly Hmong Farms, which offers consulting and technical assistance to small-scale farmers of color. Her family has been farming in Minnesota for almost 45 years.

Subscribe to the MPR News with Angela Davis podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify or RSS.

Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.