Blake Hurst has had a lot to worry about lately. A third-generation soybean, corn and flower farmer in northwestern Missouri, he is currently planting crops.
kAmqFE 4@>>@5:EJ AC:46D 92G6 366? =@H[ 5C@F89ED 92G6 EFC?65 9:D 7:6=5D E@ 5FDE 2?5 ?@H[ 96 D2:5[ ?6H E2C:77D E9C62E6? E@ 5:DCFAE 9:D 72>:=J 3FD:?6DD]k^Am
kAm$:?46 DE6AA:?8 :?E@ @77:46[ !C6D:56?E s@?2=5 %CF>A’D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]DE=E@52J]4@>^?6HD^=@42=^3FD:?6DD^2CE:4=60hg`dff22\67h5\ch3_\g4a6\4hhc3edc4d_b]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm@?\282:?[ @77\282:? E2C:77k^2m A@=:4:6D 92G6 9:E 72C>6CD 2?5 AC@5F46CD 7C@> >F=E:A=6 D:56D] tBF:A>6?E 2?5 >2E6C:2= 4@DED 92G6 8@?6 FA 2?5 72C>6CD 2C6 ?@H F?DFC6 H9@ H:== 3FJ E96:C 4C@AD 2?5 :7 E96J’== >2<6 2 AC@7:E]k^Am
Blake Hurst and his family operate Hurst Greenery in Westboro, Missouri. The third-generation crop and flower farmer in the northwest corner of the state says the lack of specifics about President Trump's tariffs makes it difficult to plan for his 1,400-acre farm.
Blake Hurst
kAm“x 42?’E 6>A92D:K6 6?@F89 9@H E9:D F?46CE2:?EJ :D 6IEC2@C5:?2C:=J 6IA6?D:G6 7@C 2?J3@5J ECJ:?8 E@ >2<6 564:D:@?D 7@C 3FD:?6DD[” wFCDE D2:5 @7 %CF>A’D EC256 A@=:4:6D] “tG6CJ 52J[ A6@A=6 AFE E96:C >@?6J 5@H? @? H92E E96J E9:?< :D 8@:?8 E@ 92AA6?]”k^Am
kAmrFCC6?E=J[ E96 &]$] 92D =6G:6D @? DE66= 2?5 2=F>:?F> AC@5F4ED[ 2FE@ A2CED[ AC@5F4ED 7C@> r2?252[ |6I:4@ 2?5 r9:?2 2?5 2 32D6=:?6 `_T F?:G6CD2= 5FEJ @? 2== :>A@CE65 8@@5D — H:E9 >@C6 A@DD:3=6] %96 8@2=[ %CF>A 92D D2:5[ :D E@ :?4C62D6 5@>6DE:4 ;@3D 2?5 AC@5F4E:@?]k^Am
kAm%CF>A 92D 8@?6 324< 2?5 7@CE9 @? C6E2=:2E@CJ E2C:77 :?4C62D6D H:E9 r9:?2 — 2 >2;@C 3FJ6C @7 p>6C:42? D@J362?D 2?5 2 3:8 D6==6C @7 72C> 6BF:A>6?E] |@DE C646?E=J[ 96 :>A@D65 2 `cdT E2C:77 @? r9:?6D6 8@@5D[ E@ H9:49 r9:?2 C6DA@?565 3J A=24:?8 2 `adT =6GJ @? p>6C:42? 8@@5D]k^Am
kAmwFCDE D2:5 96 ?@H 42?’E 277@C5 E@ C6A=246 @=5 EC24E@CD @C 4@>3:?6D[ 3FJ 9:D FDF2= A@E2D9 76CE:=:K6C 7C@> r2?252 @C @C56C 9:D 2??F2= D9:AA:?8 4@?E2:?6C @7 A=2?E6CD 7C@> r9:?2]k^Am
Blake Hurst and his family operate Hurst Greenery in Westboro, Missouri. The third-generation crop and flower farmer in the northwest corner of the state says the lack of specifics about President Trump's tariffs makes it difficult to plan for his 1,400-acre farm.
Blake Hurst
kAm“x 92G6 ?@ :562 9@H x’> 8@:?8 E@ D@FC46 E9@D6] x 42?’E 277@C5 E@ A2J `cdT E2C:77D[” wFCDE D2:5] “x H:D9 x 4@F=5 3FJ >J A@ED ?6IE 5@@C[ 3FE x 42?’E] x’G6 8@E @?6 A=246 E@ 86E E96>[ 2?5 E92E A=246 :D ?@ =@?86C DF446DD7F=[ D@ x 5@?’E <?@H H92E H6’C6 8@:?8 E@ 5@]”k^Am
kAm%96 =24< @7 DA64:7:4D 23@FE E2C:77D >2<6 :E 5:77:4F=E E@ A=2? 7@C 9:D `[c__\24C6 72C>[ 23@FE EH@ 9@FCD ?@CE9 @7 z2?D2D r:EJ :? E96 E@H? @7 (6DE3@C@[ wFCDE D2:5] tG6? E9@F89 4@>>@5:EJ AC:46D 4@F=5 =@@< 5:776C6?E @C 2 ?6H EC256 562= 4@F=5 36 :? A=246 3J 92CG6DE E:>6[ 72C>6CD ?665 2?DH6CD 2D E96J A=2?E ?@H[ 96 D2:5]k^Am
kAmp?5 >@C6 492?86D 4@F=5 92AA6? :? E96 4@>:?8 52JD] &]$] 2?5 r9:?2 2C6 6IA64E65 E@ 9@=5 EC256 E2=<D $2EFC52J E9C@F89 |@?52J :? $H:EK6C=2?5]k^Am
k9amx? E96 C65k^9am
kAm#FC2= 4@>>F?:E:6D C2==:65 369:?5 %CF>A 2D 96 D@F89E 2 D64@?5 E6C> 3J AC@>:D:?8 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]3C@@<:?8D]65F^2CE:4=6D^CFC2=\A@=:4J\AC:@C:E:6D\2C6\DE2CE:?8\E@\6>6C86\7C@>\E96\AC6D:56?E:2=\42>A2:8?D\H:E9\5:776C6?E\@FE=@@<D\@?\H92E\>2EE6CDQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmDFAA@CEk^2m 2?5 >@?6E2CJ 2:5 E@ D>2==6C D42=6 2?5 72>:=J 72C>D] p44@C5:?8 E@ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^:?G6DE:82E6>:5H6DE]@C8^a_ac^``^`b^ECF>A\6=64E:@?\72C>:?8\4@F?E:6D\EC256\H2CQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm52E2k^2m 7C@> x?G6DE:82E6 |:5H6DE[ 72C>:?8\56A6?56?E 4@F?E:6D 24C@DD E96 4@F?ECJ @G6CH96=>:?8=J G@E65 7@C %CF>A :? a_ac 3J 23@FE fgT] x? |:DD@FC:[ %CF>A H@? 2== 3FE 7@FC @7 E96 DE2E6’D ``d 4@F?E:6D]k^Am
kAm%CF>A 92D E@FE65 E2C:77D 2D 2 H2J E@ @?D9@C6 >2?F724EFC:?8 2?5 AC@5F4E:@?[ AC@E64E p>6C:42? H@C<6CD 2?5 DE@A >:8C2?ED 2?5 :==682= 5CF8D 7C@> 6?E6C:?8 E96 &]$] x? 2 |2C49 b D@4:2= >65:2 A@DE[ %CF>A 255C6DD65 “E96 8C62E 72C>6CD @7 E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D]”k^Am
kAm“v6E C625J E@ DE2CE >2<:?8 2 =@E @7 28C:4F=EFC2= AC@5F4E E@ 36 D@=5 x}$xst @7 E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D[” 96 HC@E6]k^Am
kAm|:DD@FC: :D E96 ?:?E9\=2C86DE 28C:4F=EFC2= 6IA@CE:?8 DE2E6 :? E96 &]$][ D9:AA:?8 Se]` 3:==:@? :? 5@>6DE:4 28C:4F=EFC2= 6IA@CED E@ A=246D =:<6 |6I:4@[ r2?252 2?5 4@F?EC:6D :? pD:2 :? a_aa[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 ~77:46 @7 E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^FDEC]8@G^>2A^DE2E6\36?67:ED^>@Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm&]$] %C256 #6AC6D6?E2E:G6k^2m]k^Am
kAmxE’D 366? 2 76H =62? 564256D H96? :E 4@>6D E@ 72C>:?8 AC@7:ED[ D2:5 %:> v:33@?D[ 7@C>6C 4@>>F?:42E:@?D 5:C64E@C 7@C E96 |:DD@FC: #FC2= rC:D:D r6?E6C[ 2 ?@?\AC@7:E 25G@424J 8C@FA :? r@=F>3:2]k^Am
kAmq6EH66? a_`f 2?5 a_aa[ |:DD@FC: =@DE f[cbb 72C>D 2?5 `_[___ 42EE=6 @A6C2E:@?D 5F6 E@ 9:89 @A6C2E:?8 4@DED 2?5 =@H >2C<6E AC:46D[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 &]$] s6A2CE>6?E @7 p8C:4F=EFC6]k^Am
kAmx?E6C6DE C2E6D ;F>A65 7@==@H:?8 E96 r~'xs\`h A2?56>:4[ H96? E96 u656C2= #6D6CG6 3682? 2 D6C:6D @7 9:<6D E92E >@G65 C2E6D 7C@> _]bbT :? 62C=J a_aa E@ d]bbT :? yF=J a_ab]k^Am
kAm%9:D >@?E9[ D@J362? AC:46D D:E 2E S`_]c_ A6C 3FD96=[ H9:49 :D 2=>@DE EH@ 5@==2CD =6DD E92? :E H2D E9:D E:>6 =2DE J62C] (962E AC:46D 2=D@ 5C@AA65 3J 23@FE Sa 2?5 4@C? :D 23@FE c_ 46?ED =6DD A6C 3FD96= 4@>A2C65 E@ =2DE |2J]k^Am
kAm$@J362?D 2C6 2 A2C2>@F?E A=2J6C 7@C |:DD@FC:] xE’D 2 G6CD2E:=6 4C@Ai xE 42? 7665 =:G6DE@4<[ AC@5F46 D665 @:= 2?5 36 EFC?65 :?E@ 7F6=] p3@FE Sa]b 3:==:@? H@CE9 @7 D@J362?D H6C6 6IA@CE65 :? a_aa] |@DE @7 :E 8@6D E@ r9:?2[ E96 H@C=5’D =2C86DE :>A@CE6C @7 E96 =68F>6[ H9:49 C646:G65 @G6C `_d >:==:@? E@?D @7 D@J362?D =2DE J62C]k^Am
kAm%2C:77D 2?5 EC256 A@=:4J 27764E >F=E:A=6 3FD:?6DD D64E@CD[ 3FE E96 28C:4F=EFC2= :?5FDECJ 5@6D?’E 92G6 E96 23:=:EJ E@ BF:4<=J DH:E49 FA :ED DEC2E68:6D =:<6 @E96C 3FD:?6DD6D >:89E[ D2:5 |:<6 $E66?9@6<[ 6I64FE:G6 5:C64E@C @7 E96 $@J %C2?DA@CE2E:@? r@2=:E:@?] $@[ 96’D C64@>>6?5:?8 72C>6CD 5:G6CD:7J H96C6 E96J D6==[ C2E96C E92? ECJ E@ A=2?E 5:776C6?E 4C@AD]k^Am
kAm“x7 r9:?2 :D 2 9@>6\CF? >2C<6E[ H9:49 :E :D[ 2 DF446DD :? E96 7FEFC6 7@C FD H:== :?G@=G6 >@C6 2?5 >@C6 7:?5:?8 E96 32D6\9:E >2C<6ED E92E >62?D D@>6 @7 E96 @E96C D>2==6C >2C<6ED 2C@F?5 E96 H@C=5[” $E66?9@6< D2:5] “qFE J@F 42? H:? 32D632== 82>6D G:2 32D6 9:ED]”k^Am
kAmwFCDE[ E96 72C>6C[ D2:5 E92E 23@FE 2 BF2CE6C @7 9:D 6?E:C6 4C@A J:6=5 86ED D6?E E@ r9:?2[ D@ 96 5@6D?’E <?@H H92E 96’== 5@ :7 r9:?2 5@6D?’E 2446AE E96 8@@5D] w6 D2:5 96’== AC@323=J 92G6 E@ D9:A E@ $@FE9 p>6C:42[ 2?@E96C >2;@C D@J362? AC@5F46C]k^Am
kAm“$@>6 @7 qC2K:=’D 4FDE@>6CD H:== ?@H 36 @FC 4FDE@>6CD[ 2?5 r9:?2 H:== 3FJ 7C@> qC2K:=[” wFCDE D2:5] ”r=62C=J[ :E’D >@C6 :?677:4:6?E 2?5 H:== 4@DE >@C6[ 2?5 E92E’D 8@:?8 E@ 4@>6 @FE @7 >J A@4<6E]”k^Am
kAmx? 62C=J pAC:=[ |:DD@FC: &]$] $6?] y@D9 w2H=6J D2:5 E92E %CF>A H@F=5 =@@< @FE 7@C p>6C:42? 72C>6CD 2>:5 E2C:77 :?4C62D6D] x? 9:D 7:CDE E6C>[ %CF>A F?G6:=65 S`e 3:==:@? :? 2:5 7@C 72C>6CD H9@ 925 366? 9FCE F?56C E96 &]$] EC256 H2C H:E9 r9:?2]k^Am
kAm“%96 !C6D:56?E 92D D2:5 E92E 96 H:== 23D@=FE6=J 4@>A6?D2E6 72C>6CD :7 @FC 72C>6CD 86E E2C86E65 3J[ D2J[ r9:?2 @C @E96C 4@>A6E:E@CD H9@ ECJ E@ E2<6 @FE C6E2=:2E:@? @? @FC 72C>6CD[” w2H=6J E@=5 u@I a :? 2? :?E6CG:6H] “%96 %CF>A 25>:?:DEC2E:@? 92D 366? 4=62Ci %96J’C6 8@:?8 E@ AC@E64E p>6C:42? 72C>6CD[ 2?5 E92E 368:?D H:E9 |:DD@FC: 72C>6CD[ 2?5 x :?E6?5 E@ 9@=5 E96 !C6D:56?E E@ 9:D H@C5 @? E92E]”k^Am
kAmw2H=6J’D @77:46 5:5 ?@E :>>65:2E6=J C6DA@?5 7@C 2 C6BF6DE 7@C 4@>>6?E]k^Am
Cows are seen on Darvin Bentlage's farm in Lawrence County, in southwestern Missouri. Bentlage recently penned an op-ed on how Missouri farmers can’t withstand another round of Trump tariffs because many are still feeling the affects of the tariffs imposed under Trump's first term.
Darvin Bentlage
kAms2CG:? q6?E=286[ 2 7@FCE9\86?6C2E:@? 42EE=6 2?5 8C2:? 72C>6C :? {2HC6?46 r@F?EJ[ C646?E=J A6??65 2? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]DE=E@52J]4@>^@A:?:@?^4@=F>?^2CE:4=60f76a4342\7cfe\``67\27_c\7b5h`eca3_h`]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm@A\65k^2m @? 9@H |:DD@FC: 72C>6CD 42?’E H:E9DE2?5 2?@E96C C@F?5 @7 %CF>A E2C:77D[ 3642FD6 >2?J 2C6 DE:== 766=:?8 E96 67764ED @7 E96 E2C:77D :>A@D65 F?56C %CF>A’D 7:CDE E6C>]k^Am
kAmq6?E=286 CF?D 2 `a_\24C6 72C> H:E9 c_ 3667 42EE=6] w6 FD65 E@ @A6C2E6 `[a__ 24C6D[ 92=7 A=2?E65 H:E9 C@H 4C@AD =:<6 D@J362?D[ H962E 2?5 4@C? 2?5 E96 @E96C 92=7 2D A2DEFC6 2?5 92J 7:6=5D 7@C 4@HD] w6 C646?E=J 5@H?D:K65]k^Am
kAmx? a_`g[ &]$] D@J362? 6IA@CED E@ r9:?2 5C@AA65 3J fdT 2>:5 EC256 E6?D:@?D[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 &]$] x?E6C?2E:@?2= %C256 r@>>:DD:@?] p?5 AC@5F46CD D2J E96 &]$] DE:== 92D J6E E@ H:? 324< D@>6 @7 E9@D6 >2C<6ED]k^Am
kAmq6?E=286 C6>6>36CD 9@H 9:89 AC:46D 8@E F?56C E96 E2C:77D @7 %CF>A’D 7:CDE E6C>] p A2CE 96 ?66565 7@C 2 >@H6C >249:?6 ;F>A65 7C@> Sh[d__ E@ S`a[___]k^Am
kAm“{F4<:=J[ x 925 2 =@E @7 6BF:EJ :? >J 72C> 2?5 D@ x ;FDE H6?E 23@FE A2J:?8 7@C :E 282:?[” q6?E=286 D2:5] w6 2?5 9:D H:76 C6E:C65 7C@> E96 “3:8 72C>” 23@FE 2 J62C 2?5 2 92=7 28@ E@ 2G@:5 “8@:?8 E9C@F89 :E 282:?]”k^Am
kAm%9@F89 72C>6CD H@?’E D66 E96 C6DF=E @7 %CF>A’D =6G:6D @? 8C2:? AC:46D F?E:= 92CG6DE E:>6 :? E96 72==[ q6?E=286 D2:5 96’D 4@?46C?65 23@FE @A6C2E:?8 4@DED ?@H 2?5 H92E F?46CE2:?EJ 23@FE E2C:77D >62?D 7@C E96 7FEFC6 @7 p>6C:42? 72C>6CD]k^Am
kAm“(6’C6 364@>:?8 2? F?ECFDEH@CE9J 2?5 F?C6=:23=6 EC256 A2CE?6C 2?5 H6’G6 8@E E@@ >F49 4@>A6E:E:@?[ 6DA64:2==J :? 28C:4F=EFC6 @FE E96C6[” q6?E=286 D2:5] “xE’D ?@E C62= A@D:E:G6[ 6DA64:2==J 7@C ?6H6C 8FJD DE2CE:?8 @FE[ D@ :E’== 36 5:77:4F=E]”k^Am
Tess Bauer, a senior and Orchard Farm High FFA president, is among a handful of students in St. Charles County still living on family farms.
Robert Cohen
The business news you need
Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly.