Soybean growers have a strong message for the Trump Administration. One group says they are under extreme financial stress, and tariffs are making it worse.
With China largely absent from the buying table, the American Soybean Association is calling on the White House to ease up on Chinese tariffs.
In a 10-page paper outlining the situation, the group warns that time is running out, and farmers could pay the price. They say tariffs against China have had a limited impact on soybeans so far, but with harvest around the corner, that will soon change. China imports as much as 60 percent of the world’s soybean supply, but the group warns retaliatory tariffs make U.S. beans 20 percent more expensive, driving China to places, like Brazil.
The Soy Transportation Coalition is also weighing in, saying China has been the ideal customer for a number of reaons. They have a large population with growing incomes, they consume large amounts of pork and poultry, and they cook with a large volume of oils. Executive Director Mike Steenhoek says a lot of rural America’s growth over the last 30 years has been because of the Chinese market and the ability for U.S. soybean growers to export there.
Economists are also closely watching how policy decisions in Washington could influence markets moving forward. Analysts say deferred futures for corn, soybeans, and wheat suggest markets are operating near break-even levels, not at prices that would encourage expanded production.
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Eliza Petry joins the RFD News team with a strong connection to agriculture and a commitment to covering the people and issues that matter most to rural America.
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Corn and soybean exports continue to anchor weekly inspection totals, with China maintaining a visible role, while wheat and sorghum remain more dependent on regional and seasonal demand shifts.
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Without additional support, many soybean operations will continue to face financial stress as they prepare for the 2026 crop.
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Decoupled base acres may amplify income inequality and distort planting decisions as farm program payments increase.
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From tariff talks in Europe to SCOTUS uncertainty and rising farm losses, analysts say policy and global supply will shape grain markets in the year ahead.
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Large Brazilian crops heighten downside price risk if the weather allows production to reach projected levels.
January 22, 2026 12:38 PM
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