Soy leaders are keeping a close watch on tariff action out of the White House. China is a major buyer of U.S. soybeans, and economists warn the situation could quickly heat up.
“They dominate the global oil seed market and they import more than the rest of the world combined. And in 2018, when those Section 301 retaliatory tariffs went into place, we saw prices drop overnight by $2.00 a bushel and our market share evaporate. You know, USDA’s Economic Research Service put out a study assessing the economic damages done to us as a result of the trade. It showed $27 billion in losses for U.S. ag, and of that amount, our soybeans accounted for 71%,” said Virginia Houston.
President Trump has given both Canada and Mexico a February 1st start date for tariffs. Some ag leaders have warned the plan could backfire, while others support the move as an effort to boost U.S. trade.
Farm numbers still favor small operations, but production, resilience, and risk management are increasingly concentrated among fewer, larger farms.
February 12, 2026 12:16 PM
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The USDA opened a new sterile fly-dispersal facility at Moore Air Base in South Texas to prevent a potential outbreak of New World screwworm and protect the small U.S. cattle herd.
February 12, 2026 10:47 AM
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February 12, 2026 10:14 AM
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American Farmland Trust shares guidance, research, and policy solutions to help farmers navigate the growing threat of PFAS, or “forever chemicals,” contaminating U.S. farmland.
February 11, 2026 02:24 PM
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Richard Gupton of the Agricultural Retailers Association discusses the EPA’s new decision on over-the-top Dicamba and what it means for growers this year.
February 11, 2026 01:32 PM
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The agreement formalizes coordination between the two departments to address security concerns affecting U.S. agriculture.
February 11, 2026 11:05 AM
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