Editor:

American farmers are the hard-working self-reliant CEOs of the family business, efficient producers of inexpensive nutritious food. We buy seed and fertilizer, often with loans, plant crops that can be devastated by drought, storms, insects, and weeds. When we plant crops, we assume financial risk. We study markets and pay taxes. We are engaged in a dignified profession.

Tariffs are a mistake. In a tariff war we lose our farm markets in Canada, Mexico, Europe, and China. Our government gives away our markets so that our government can give tax breaks to wealthy billionaires.

Tariffs are a double hit on the farm community. Who will eat our excess grain and drink our excess milk? Our excess farm produce drives down the price of commodities, reduces farm family income and, with reciprocal taxes imposed by our angered international customers, increases the cost of fertilizer and farm machinery.

Farming is a hard business. Government subsidies can reduce farmer stress and farm bankruptcies. However, we are proud people. We look forward to springtime and planting. We do not want to sit at the computer completing government forms and waiting for handouts. We need government that works for us, not against us. We want to farm.

Barry Morton, N.J.