NEW SURVEY: Ohio Farmers Are Getting Crushed Thanks to Jon Husted

NEW SURVEY: Ohio Farmers Are Getting Crushed Thanks to Jon Husted

April 17, 2026

Ohio Country Journal: Nationwide survey: Most farmers can't afford fertilizer

COLUMBUS, OHIO - Ohio farmers are getting crushed, and Jon Husted is only making things worse. Thanks to the Husted-backed war in Iran, diesel and fertilizer prices have skyrocketed, putting even more strain on farmers already struggling to stay in business. According to a new survey, "70% of respondents say fertilizer is so expensive that they will not be able to buy all the fertilizer they need."

Ohio farmers were already facing major economic pressures before another endless war in the Middle East. The Husted-backed tariffs have wreaked havoc on the agriculture industry, contributing to farmers in Ohio seeing a massive 74% loss in sales to China while farm bankruptcies rose 46% nationwide.

But despite the damage, Jon Husted has said the war in the Middle East is going "much better than anyone thought it would," even as costs keep rising. Husted also continues to double down, arguing that critics "are wrong" about the tariffs, they "haven't affected the economy negatively," and "the policies are working."

Ohio Democratic Party Senior Communications Advisor Tony Wen released the following statement:

"Ohio farmers were already getting crushed by reckless tariffs that closed off markets and drove up costs, and Jon Husted's support for another war in the Middle East is making things worse. Farm bankruptcies were up 46% nationwide, and now 70% of farmers say fertilizer is so expensive they can't afford everything they need to plant. Jon Husted has done nothing but cause more pain for Ohio farmers."

Jon Husted's reckless policies are crushing Ohio farmers:

• Jon Husted voted three separate times to block efforts reining in the reckless tariffs driving up costs and closing off markets.

• The Husted-backed war in Iran has sent diesel and fertilizer prices skyrocketing, with farm bankruptcies up 46% nationwide in 2025.

• Husted has doubled down on his support for the reckless tariffs that are raising costs, saying that critics "are wrong," they "haven't affected the economy negatively," and "the policies are working."

• When asked if tariffs will be beneficial for Ohioans, Husted said he was "optimistic [they] will be."

• Husted dismissed the pain that Ohioans are feeling due to the tariffs, saying "you don't hear from the ones that love it."

• Because of the Husted-backed tariffs sending costs soaring, some small businesses in Northeast Ohio may need to close.

• Ohio farmer Chris Gibbs said that farmers are taking major losses because of the Husted-backed tariffs - and it is putting them in a "hell of a mess."

###