Third-generation farmer Igalious “Ike” Mills knew it was only a matter of time before a United States Department of Agriculture local office would close in his rural east Texas town. He’d heard of the ongoing closures nationwide and kept close watch on the news about President Donald Trump’s calls for tariffs on nearly all U.

P. Wade Ross leads a group of Black farmers and ranchers who are used to losing some---and, then, losing some. Now, they are hoping for a win.

The loss of government funding, expectations for a tightening labor market due to deportations and an escalating trade war have farmers on edge.