Republican economic policies are hurting agriculture, WNY businesses

Editor:

Congresswoman Claudia Tenney and Congressman Nick Langworthy’s economic policies are hurting Western New York.

Their tariff policies are driving up cost of supplies and equipment for farmers. Fertilizer prices have increased between 4.7% and 37.6% according to a report from the National Corn Grower Association released last July, before the war with Iran.

Meanwhile, exports by New York dairy farmers declined by 12% in the first half of 2025 and soybean exports dropped from 985 million bushels in 2024 to 218 million bushels in the first eight months of 2025. According to the American Farm Bureau Federation farm bankruptcies in New York are increasing.

The Buffalo Niagara Manufacturing Association (BNMA) survey showed that Ms. Tenney’s and Mr. Langworthy’s tariffs are increasing cost of material and supplies harming manufacturing across Western New York.

Manufacturing Association of the Southern Tier found that more than 80% of their respondents reported that tariffs were increasing cost of raw materials. Peter Ahrens, Chief Operating Officer of the BNMA, reported that “the data shows far more manufacturers are struggling than benefiting under current trade policies.”

Small businesses that depend on tourism like lodging and hotels, rentals and restaurants are significantly hurt by the Republican’s policies. New York State Department of Labor reports that unemployment is increasing in Western New York.

It is no surprise that Moody’s Analytics put the possibility of a recession starting in the next 12 months at 49% before the war with Iran now with oil prices going up they predict a recession by more than 50%.

Farmers, manufacturing, and small business are all negatively affected by Republican economic policies. Your fuel costs are skyrocketing; food costs are increasing and the rise in inflation is eating your income.

While your economic condition worsens, Ms. Tenney and Mr. Langworthy are taking your tax dollars to fund a vanity ballroom for $1 billion dollars, a Triumphal arch for about $15 million, and their war in Iran for over $29 billion.

Now they are contemplating pulling $1.776 billion from the treasury, of your money, for the President’s slush fund to reward his supporters. Republicans are not working for the needs of Western New York.

William Fine

Brockport