America Didn’t Lose Its Farm Empire. It Blew It Up on Purpose.
America’s agricultural dominance didn’t collapse by accident — it was destroyed by protectionist trade policies that backfired spectacularly. Tariffs meant to protect farmers instead erased decades of market access, drove buyers to Brazil, and indirectly fueled Amazon deforestation. The same politicians who promised to fight for farmers handed their markets to rivals. This is the story of how America blew up its own farm empire.