Donald Trump marked National Agriculture Day on Friday (Mar 27) by unveiling a new White House website, staging a large-scale event for farmers on the South Lawn, and announcing fresh policy measures aimed at an agricultural sector under pressure from rising costs and geopolitical tensions. The initiative, branded “OnlyFarms,” sits at the centre of a broader ueffort by the administration to showcase its support for farmers as the industry grapples with the combined effects of tariffs and the ongoing conflict with Iran.
A White House launch with a pointed name
The new platform, called “OnlyFarms”, leans into an attention-grabbing name that clearly riffs on the adult subscription site OnlyFans. It’s hosted within the White House’s official website, but accessed through the OnlyFarms.gov address, which takes users to a page outlining the administration’s agricultural policies. Promoting the launch, the White House posted on X: “Curious how American farmers are benefiting right now, or exactly how much each state has saved?” The site includes a downloadable fact sheet and an interactive map allowing users to click on individual states and calculate estimated savings under the administration’s policies. According to the site, “The Trump Administration has delivered over $40 billion in direct assistance to our farmers and ranchers, helping them recover from years of unfair foreign trade practices and the disastrous policies of the Biden administration.” The material highlights measures including tax relief for family farms, expanded market access and reduced regulatory “red tape”.
A South Lawn showcase with tractors and farmers
The website launch coincided with a large gathering at the White House, where Trump addressed around 800 farmers and ranchers, which he described as “the single largest gathering of American farmers that the White House has ever seen”. “You’re very, very special people,” he told the crowd. “And rain or shine, you don’t mind. The one thing about farmers, they don’t care about that weather.” “You voted for me. I will never forget that,” he added. The South Lawn event featured multiple tractors, including a gold-painted Fendt 1167 Vario, displayed by AGCO Corporation, one of the world’s largest agricultural equipment manufacturers, and manufactured in Jackson, Minnesota, alongside a red, white and blue tractor. “That’s a beautiful tractor. That’s a gold tractor. Somebody had me in mind,” Trump said. “That’s a hell of a tractor.”
Policy measures aimed at a strained sector
Alongside the rollout, the administration outlined several steps intended to ease financial pressure on farmers. These include an expansion of Small Business Administration loan guarantees for agricultural businesses, increasing coverage from 75% to 90% for lenders working with producers such as vegetable, grain and seed farmers, as well as cattle, pig and poultry operators. Trump also confirmed new Environmental Protection Agency guidance on diesel emissions, linked to changes in exhaust fluid sensor requirements. The White House said the move could save billions. The president pointed to earlier financial support, reminding the audience: “I just gave you $12 billion” in assistance in December. “You think Biden would have done that?” he added. He also highlighted efforts to boost renewable fuels derived from agricultural products and adjust regulations affecting farm equipment.
Industry pressures: tariffs, fuel costs and the Iran conflict
The announcements come at a time of mounting strain for the US agricultural sector. Farmers have faced rising fuel and fertiliser costs, driven in part by Trump’s global tariff policies and the ongoing war involving Iran. The conflict has disrupted flows of oil and natural gas, key inputs for fertiliser production, while also pushing up gasoline and diesel prices. Industry groups have warned that these pressures are compounding existing financial challenges across farming communities.Throughout the event, Trump positioned his administration as uniquely supportive of American agriculture. “We love the American farmer,” he said, while also criticising environmentalists as “terrorists” in remarks tied to regulatory changes.
