Urgent Action Needed to Keep U.S. Soybean Farmers Competitive

By Andi Anderson

Six months after Trade Liberation Day, farmers across Iowa and much of rural America find little reason to celebrate.

In Harper, Iowa, where soybean farming has been central for decades, growers are concerned not about weather but about strained trade relationships threatening global demand for U.S. crops.

Soybeans tell the story. Nearly half of the U.S. soybean crop is traditionally exported. Iowa farmers alone will harvest about 9.3 million acres this year, producing more than 550 million bushels. Yet protectionist trade policies and tariffs are jeopardizing access to key international markets.

China provides the clearest example. Consuming 60% of global soybean exports, China was once America’s largest customer thanks to years of farmer-led investment in trade relationships.

Today, tariffs and trade disputes are closing doors, costing Iowa farmers billions. An Iowa State University analysis suggests retaliatory tariffs could slash up to $1.5 billion from Iowa’s soybean industry alone, nearly one-quarter of its total value.

This strain comes at a time of strong yields and nearly ideal harvest conditions, filling grain bins with soybeans that urgently need buyers. To address this, the Iowa Soybean Association calls for immediate action:

• The administration must prioritize a trade agreement with China to resume soybean purchases during the critical October to February sales window.
• Congress and federal leaders should provide trade mitigation funding as a bridge until agreements are finalized, giving farmers a chance to survive.
• Finalizing Renewable Volume Obligations and reallocating refinery exemptions would also boost demand for soybean oil and strengthen prices.

Agriculture thrives when the U.S. leads in trade. Farmers have invested decades building global markets, but political uncertainty now risks unraveling those efforts. The harvest is strong, demand exists, and quality is proven.

What is needed is swift policy action to reconnect American farmers with buyers who depend on their soybeans.

It is time to trade again, before more ground is lost.

Photo Credit: gettyimages-shotbydave