By Ricky Dana, Candidate for U.S. House – Missouri’s 4th District
🚨 Trump Trade Policies Hurt Missouri Farms 🚨
Trump trade policies hurt Missouri farms—that’s not spin, it’s fact. Missouri’s farmers are staring down shrinking markets, collapsing exports, and vanishing opportunities. Reckless trade wars and political theater have left our family farms holding the bag. And make no mistake: if we don’t change course, the crisis will only get worse. 🌾
How Trump Trade Policies Hurt Missouri Farms
China was once our biggest customer, buying nearly one-third of all U.S. soybeans. In 2017, American soybeans made up 34% of China’s imports. Today, after years of Trump’s reckless trade wars, that share has collapsed to just 21%. Brazil swooped in to fill the gap, and now supplies 71% of China’s soybeans. 🚜
These aren’t just numbers on a page—they’re barns sitting half-empty, combines idled in fields, and families wondering how to make the next bank payment. Farmers who once sold half their harvest to China are scrambling for buyers. The European Union, our second-largest customer, purchases only about one-fifth of what China once did. That gap has left Missouri families reeling.
Farmers Want Markets, Not Bailouts
Here’s the truth: Trump trade policies hurt Missouri farms because they destroy markets. Missouri farmers don’t want bailout checks. They don’t want one-time disaster relief. They want open markets where they can compete on quality. They know Missouri soybeans are the best in the world. But no farmer can sell when politicians slam the door shut. 💥
Some relief programs exist, but they’re not enough. Insurance can’t replace decades of trust between farmers and global buyers. Relief funds don’t stop families from losing the farm. And they sure don’t rebuild rural communities when incomes fall and the tax base collapses. Our farmers deserve stability, not political games.
The Ripple Effect Across Missouri
When farms struggle, towns struggle. Local feed stores, hardware shops, and diners lose business. County roads go unpaved. Rural schools cut programs. Clinics face staff shortages. When soybeans stop moving, everything else slows down too. That’s why Trump trade policies hurt Missouri farms isn’t just a farm issue—it’s a Missouri issue. It’s about the survival of our communities. ⏰
Capitulation vs. Representation
Republicans claim to be the “party of farmers.” But the proof is in their voting records. Again and again, they’ve stood with Trump and the special interests that bankroll them, not with the farm families who put food on our tables. When push comes to shove, they’ve chosen loyalty to Trump over loyalty to Missouri. That betrayal is costing us dearly. ❌
A Better Path Forward
It doesn’t have to be this way. We can repair broken trade relationships. We can expand exports into new markets. We can invest in value-added agriculture right here at home, making Missouri soybeans more competitive than ever. But we need leaders willing to fight for farmers, not bow to Trump’s ego. Trump trade policies hurt Missouri farms, and it’s time to say enough is enough. 🇺🇸
Missouri Grown. Missouri Strong.
Here’s the bottom line: If we send more Trump loyalists back to Congress in 2026, nothing changes. The markets will keep shrinking, Brazil will keep winning, and Missouri farmers will keep losing. But if we stand together, we can put Missouri first. We can protect our family farms, strengthen rural communities, and build a future where Missouri agriculture thrives. That’s what I’m fighting for—and I need you with me.
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Sources:
South China Morning Post – U.S. soybean farmers and China trade
United States Department of Agriculture – export data
Reuters – U.S. agriculture and trade coverage