The farmer warns of “this is a fire of five ponds” where time is running out before the harvest, and there is still a Chinese deal

Beijing, which traditionally cut at least a quarter of all the soy planted in the United States, actually interrupts them in response to this High definitions President Donald Trump has imposed on Chinese goods and strengthened their hand in Negotiations More than a new comprehensive commercial deal.

American soy farmers have left the American farmers afraid not only this year, but the long -term feasibility of their work, which was partially built on China’s appetite, which was one day for US beans.

“This is a fire of five basins for our industry,” said Rajland, who leads the trade group at the American Soya Association.

The situation may be sufficient to test the farmers’ loyalty to Trump, although he still has strong support throughout the rural America. If a deal is not reached soon, they hope that the government will reach assistance as it did during the first period of Trump, but they only see this as a temporary solution. Trump said on Thursday that he was thinking of a help package.

We held Chinese officials and Chinese officials Four rounds of commercial conversationsBetween May and September, with one more likely to be in the coming weeks. No progress has been reported in soybeans.

Jim Sotter, CEO of the US Soy Export Council, said that approaching the harvest, “I am frankly concerned that the time is running out.”

Political pressure grows

After Trump imposed a tariff on Chinese goods, China She replied with her own tariffWhich now reaches 34 % on American soybeans. This makes soy beans from other countries cheaper.

China’s reprisals in China also struck the US farmers of delicate corn, corn, cotton, and even Geodok divers I was affected. But soybeans emerge due to the importance of the huge crop of American agricultural export. Soybeans are the best food export in the United States, which represents about 14 % of all agricultural commodities sent abroad.

China was largely the largest foreign buyer. Last year, the United States exported nearly $ 24.5 billion of soybeans, and China formed more than $ 12.5 billion. Compared to $ 2.45 billion by the European Union, the second largest buyer. This year, China has not bought beans since May.

As American farmers are damaged, the Trump administration is exposed to increasing pressure to a deal with China. As the conversations continue, Trump looks ready for help.

“We will take some customs tariff money – a relatively small amount, but a lot for farmers – and we will help farmers to get a little during this transition period, Trump said.

It was the only way that most farmers survived Trump’s trade war in his first term with tens of billions of dollars in government payments. But this is not what most farmers want.

What farmers expect from Trump

“The American farmer, especially I, we do not want to pay payments,” said Brian Warboub, 52, who is a fourth -generation farmer of Warren, Indiana. “We want to work. We are working on the ground, harvesting the ground, crop from the ground. The worst thing we can want is a bulletin.”

Farmers are looking for Trump for a long -term solution.

“With a overwhelming majority, the farmers were in the corner of President Trump,” said Rajland, president of the soybean association. “And I think the message that soybeans as a whole want to present is:” President Trump, we had your back. We need to have now. ”

He said that farmers are ready to provide some relief in the short term, but what they need in the end is strong and reliable markets. He said: “Our priority still witnesses that the United States provides permanent trade agreements-especially with China-which allows farmers to sell their crops and build a sustainable future with long-term clients.”

Rajland, 39, hopes that his three children will become the tenth generation until 4,500 acres in Magnolia, Kentucky. Unless something changes soon, it worries that thousands of farmers may not survive.

Upon arrival this year, many farmers were hoping to collapse even because crop prices were weak while their costs only increased. Trump’s tariff, which helped make their crops unlike all over the world, defined the prices fell further. Steel and fertilizers are sent more costs.

Darren Johnson, president of the Minnesota Soy Farms Association, said he was still trusting in the Trump administration to reach a good trade deal with China.

“I think patience may wear thin is the right time,” said Johnson, a fourth -generation farmer. “I don’t think anyone thinks that we will take this time a lot because we were told 90 deals, 90 deals in 90 days.”

China’s negotiation strategy

The American soybean industry has grown in response to Chinese demand starting in the 1990s, when China began its rapid economic rise and turned to foreign producers to help feed its people. Protein -rich soybeans are an essential part of the diet.

While China depends on the local crops of steamed beans, it needs more soybeans to extract oil and animal feed. In 2024, China produced 20 million metric tons of soybeans, with more than 105 million metric tons imported.

Souter said that the American farmers came in China as their largest agent, and this “gave the Chinese a point of the leverage.” By stopping the purchase of American soybeans, China is seen as trying to benefit from this purchasing power in commercial talks.

“I think this is the strategy,” said Souter of the US Soy Soy Export Council. “I think this is the reason that China targets soybeans and other agricultural products, because they know that farmers have a strong hall and that farmers are important to the American government.”

Liu Bingio, spokesman for the Chinese embassy in Washington, did not answer specific questions about the purchases of soybeans, but urged the United States to work with Beijing.

“The essence of Chinese economic and commercial cooperation and the United States is a mutual benefit and Balin won,” Liu said.

China turned to Brazil when Trump launched his first trade war in 2018. Last year, Brazilian beans made up more than 70 % of China’s imports, while the US share decreased to 21 %. Argentina and other South American countries also sell more to China, which has varied to increase food security.

What American farmers do in response to this

Sogter, who recently traveled to Japan and Indonesia in search of new markets, said that American farmers would broaden their customer base. Taiwan has pledged to buy soybeans worth $ 10 billion, corn, wheat and beef in the next four years.

“There are strong diversification efforts,” Souter said. But “China is very large, it is difficult to replace it overnight.”

Farmers are also promoting consumption at home. Growth in the production of biological diesel fuel has taken some of the soybeans that were once exported. Others are crushed to produce soybean oil and soybean meal. The United Sweetening Council in research invests the benefits of using soybeans to feed dairy cows and pigs.

But IWA ROBB EWOLDT, the director of the soybeans council, knows that such local uses are growing gradually.

“We cannot replace China in one shot,” Eolalet said. “This will not happen. We need to be realistic in it.”