Harvest ’25: Soy Sentiment Sours as Market Pressure, Storage Concerns Grow

“Those could’ve easily been our beans going over there. It goes to show that if that opportunity is there, China would be willing to buy.”

WILLIAMSPORT, OHIO (RFD-TV) — Pressure is mounting on U.S. soybean farmers as harvest gets underway. With Brazil — and now Argentina — stepping in to capture more of the Chinese market, concerns are growing in what has already been a frustrating season.

American Soybean Association (ASA) Vice President Scott Metzger joined us on Monday’s Market Day Report from his very own combine to share the soy sector’s sentiment and market outlook as harvesting continues.

Metzger discussed the decline in soybean prices and the impact of Argentina’s recent decision to reduce its soybean export taxes, which allowed the country to sell 20 shiploads to China.

“If we can be competitive with beans, we can get’em moved — like they did with Argentina,” Metzger said. “Those could’ve easily been our beans going over there. It goes to show that if that opportunity is there, China would be willing to buy.”

He also discussed the ASA’s call for the Trump administration to secure a trade deal with China, the risks associated with not reaching an agreement soon, and what that would mean for U.S. farmers.

Farming in Ohio himself, Metzger provided an update on harvest progress in his region, shared his outlook for the crop moving forward, and addressed concerns about storage capacity if China stays off the buying table when it comes to U.S. commodities.

Related Stories
Dr. Mark Svoboda with the National Drought Mitigation Center discusses a new global drought report and resources to help operations increase drought resilience.
Treat financial stress as a health risk—know the warning signs, normalize conversations, and connect farm families to local and national support early.
Harvest Builds As Logistics And Input Costs Shape Fall Decisions
Focus on home radon testing—not changing your diet—because background sources vastly outweigh any exposure from naturally radioactive foods.
Jack Daniel’s will end its Cow Feeder Program, which served around 100 livestock operations near the distillery, and redirect spent grains to its anaerobic digester.
Prepare for acute UAN risk and a brief urea shock; maintain steady ammonia and phosphate plans, and monitor potash basis on the coasts.
“A government shutdown impacts all Americans and has serious consequences, including for farmers. It just adds additional uncertainty, disrupts critical services.”
Agricultural exports continue to be a key contributor to rural employment. However, rural businesses still struggle to fill numerous job openings.
Farm debt is climbing to record levels at ag banks, reflecting pressure on crop producers’ finances even as livestock and land values lend stability to the sector.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

Federal lawyers submitted a brief this week backing Bayer’s argument that federal laws governing herbicides like Roundup should prevent lawsuits over the popular chemical.
China’s renewed purchases signal improving sorghum demand at a time when export markets are otherwise uneven. Meanwhile, agriculture groups across the U.S, Canada, and Mexico want to protect close trade relations.
The Cotton-4 are pushing hard for new value chain investments. Still, many U.S. cotton producers face unsustainable losses, and weakened regional textile capacity threatens the survival of the Carolina “dirt-to-shirt” supply chain.
Tryston Beyrer, Crop Nutrition Lead at The Mosaic Company, examines planning trends as producers weigh corn and soybean plantings for 2026.
Brooks York with AgriSompo joins us to offer an update on what agents are prioritizing as the calendar year winds down.
The newly elected Executive Vice President of the Tennessee Cattlemen’s Association (TCA), Dale Parker, joins us on-set to share his vision for his state’s cattle industry.
Agriculture Shows
Special 3-part series tells the story of the Claas family’s legacy, which changed agriculture forever.
From soil to harvest. Top Crop is an all-new series about four of the best farmers in the world—Dan Luepkes, of Oregan, Illinois; Cory Atley, of Cedarville, Ohio; Shelby Fite, of Jackson Center, Ohio; Russell Hedrick, of Hickory, North Carolina—reveals what it takes for them to make a profitable crop. It all starts with good soil, patience, and a strong planter setup.
Champions of Rural America is a half-hour dive into the legislative priorities for Rural America. Join us as we interview members of the Congressional Western Caucus to learn about efforts in Washington to preserve agriculture and tackles the most important topics in the ag industry on Champions of Rural America!
Featuring members of Congress, federal and state officials, ag and food leaders, farmers, and roundtable panelists for debates and discussions.