Putting America first and safeguarding national security begins with equipping farmers with the tools they need to keep food on tables. ATVs allow farmers to cover large fields, check crops and irrigation, transport tools and supplies, and herd livestock across uneven pastures. Yet, these vital working vehicles have been unintentionally caught in Section 232 steel tariffs that are adding thousands of dollars to their cost and risk putting them beyond the reach of farmers already facing mounting financial headwinds.
Farmers across the country are feeling squeezed. In fact, 60% of America’s producers report increased financial pressure as the cost of fuel, fertilizer, labor, equipment, and other essentials continues to rise. For those of us who rely on working vehicles every day, these tariffs are not abstract policy. They are an added cost that deepens the strain on the farm economy and ultimately weakens America’s food security.
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As a fourth-generation farmer at Viereck Farms in southern New Jersey, I see what these vehicles mean on the ground. On our approximately 800-acre vegetable and grain farm, an ATV checks irrigation, carries repair parts when equipment goes down, scouts crops, and moves quickly between fields when every hour matters. Through my service on the New Jersey State Board of Agriculture and the Farm Credit East board of directors, I see that same need across our region. ATVs are not optional equipment. They keep farms running efficiently, safely, and competitively.
Too often, ATVs are misunderstood as recreational vehicles — something for weekend trail rides. On working farms, they are anything but. Nearly 75% of farmers rely on these vehicles for daily operations. Few affordable alternatives offer the same mobility, durability, and versatility. In agriculture, where timing can determine whether a crop succeeds or fails, these vehicles are workhorses. A shopper may never see the ATV carrying a repair part into the field, but it helps get American-grown food to the produce aisle. When farm costs rise, consumers ultimately feel it too.
Keeping these tools within reach is critical given the economic realities farmers face. Adjusted for inflation, the Department of Agriculture projects net farm income to decline by approximately $4.1 billion in 2026, while total farm-sector debt is forecast to rise to a record $624.7 billion. Chapter 12 farm bankruptcies increased 46% in 2025, and filings in April 2026 were 130% higher than one year earlier — the highest monthly total in six years. Here in New Jersey, farmers are still recovering from a late April freeze that caused an estimated $300 million in crop losses. On many farms, we are not debating upgrades. We are fighting to preserve businesses and land passed from one generation to the next.
This is not just an economic issue, it is a national security issue. America First begins with the ability to feed ourselves. A strong, independent farm sector keeps our food supply anchored at home, rather than relying on foreign competitors who do not share our interests. Approximately 85% of what Americans spend on food and beverages is supplied through the domestic food chain. That strength is not guaranteed. It depends on farmers having the equipment needed to produce efficiently and at scale.
Production expenses have hit record levels, squeezing margins and pushing smaller operations to the brink. When Washington raises the cost of essential working vehicles, it undermines American farming independence. We cannot protect American agriculture while taxing the tools that keep the industry alive. Strong trade enforcement and targeted relief are not contradictory. Tariffs should confront unfair trade practices without making American farmers collateral damage.
TAKING AWAY SOLAR LEASES WON’T SAVE FARMS. IT’LL BURY THEM
Fortunately, there is a straightforward fix that keeps faith with tough trade enforcement while supporting the farmers who feed us. President Donald Trump can provide targeted relief for finished ATVs and their essential replacement parts under Section 232, carving out critical equipment when tariffs unintentionally hit essential tools. This would not weaken the broader trade policy. It would correct an unintended consequence.
Putting America first must mean making sure the people who feed this country have the tools they need to do their jobs. Targeted relief for ATVs and their parts is a practical, commonsense step in that direction. Trump should act now to adjust these tariffs and keep these essential working vehicles within reach. America should be equipping its farmers, not taxing their tools.
Joel R. Viereck is a fourth-generation New Jersey farmer and farm operations manager at Viereck Farms LLC. He serves on the Farm Credit East board of directors and the New Jersey State Board of Agriculture, and he is a former president of the Vegetable Growers Association of New Jersey. Joel is focused on practical agricultural policy, access to capital, food safety, and strengthening the future of America’s family farms.
