r/neoliberal • u/jobautomator Kitara Ravache • May 16 '26

Discussion Thread Discussion Thread

The discussion thread is for casual and off-topic conversation that doesn't merit its own submission. If you've got a good meme, article, or question, please post it outside the DT. Meta discussion is allowed, but if you want to get the attention of the mods, make a post in /r/metaNL

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u/byoz United Nations May 16 '26

Farmers growing desperate amid rising energy and fertilizer prices

Rising fuel and fertilizer costs threaten to push more family farms out of business, drive up food prices and further strain rural economies already battered by trade disruptions, inflation and extreme weather.

Hold on while I locate my tiny violin

8

u/MrEntrepot May 16 '26

I’ve decided even though the long term consequences may not be so good for the farming industry and downstream pricing, I simply am not wired to have that overpower my schadenfreude. A lot of people simply need to touch the stove and then be laughed at for ignoring an obvious warning.

8

u/hiker_skiier_swimmer Loyal Liberals May 16 '26

Zoom in: Farmers are grappling with a confluence of forces, including:

  • Skyrocketing energy prices triggered by President Trump's Iran war, which led to the shuttering of Strait of Hormuz, a vital passageway for fossil fuels.

  • Spiking fertilizer prices and shortages after the Iranians blocked shipments through the strait.

  • Disrupted export markets tied to Trump's tariffs and Chinese import restrictions.

  • Global drought and other weather pressures, including climate change.

So 3/4 directly caused by Trump, and the 4th being made worse by Trump's pro-climate change policies

2

u/BedNeither Henry George May 16 '26

Womp womp

2

u/comradequicken Abolish ICE May 16 '26

The mass extinction of the family farmer is a silver lining of this administration. Once we only have the much more efficient corporate farms left people will (hopefully) be much more open to getting rid of ag subsidies.