By Ricky Dana, Candidate for U.S. House – Missouri’s 4th District
China Turns Its Back on U.S. Soybeans, Leaving Missouri Farmers Stranded
Farmers across Missouri and the Midwest are facing a new crisis this harvest season. For years, China was one of the largest buyers of American soybeans and beef. But after years of tariffs, trade wars, and broken promises, China has shifted its purchasing power to other countries like Brazil. That shift has left Missouri farmers with unsold crops, lower prices, and shrinking profit margins.
Unsold Soybeans Are Piling Up
Record lows in soybean sales mean bins are filling up with no buyers.
In a typical year, Chinese buyers commit to purchasing a large share of the U.S. soybean crop before harvest. This year, those commitments are almost nonexistent. At this point in the season, China would normally have locked in around 14–27% of its needs from American farmers. Instead, U.S. sales to China are down more than 80% from the five-year average. That means hundreds of thousands of tons of soybeans are sitting unsold in bins and elevators across the Heartland.
Here in Missouri, that unsold crop isn’t just a statistic—it’s a threat to farm families’ survival. When soybeans sit unsold, storage costs rise, credit tightens, and the price outlook gets worse. Futures prices have already dropped by $1 to $1.50 per bushel compared to last year. The local “basis” price offered by elevators has also collapsed, cutting deeper into farmers’ bottom line. That kind of financial squeeze is not sustainable for family farms already running on thin margins.
Costs Are Rising as Prices Fall
Farmers are paying more to plant and harvest—yet getting less in return.
The problem is made worse by rising input costs. Seeds, fertilizer, and equipment repairs all cost more in 2025 than they did just a few years ago. Farmers are paying more to plant and harvest their crops, only to see lower returns when it’s time to sell. For many Missouri producers, that math doesn’t add up. Without relief, some will face the painful choice of taking on heavy debt or walking away from land that has been in their families for generations.
China Isn’t Coming Back Anytime Soon
China’s long-term shift to Brazil has shut Missouri farmers out of their biggest market.
Some farmers are still hoping that China will return as a major buyer, but the reality is bleak. China has imposed tariffs of around 20% on U.S. soybeans, making American crops far more expensive than those from Brazil. At the same time, Brazil has expanded its production and captured nearly half of China’s import market. Even if trade talks resume, China has already built long-term supply chains with other countries. That means U.S. farmers—especially here in Missouri—should not expect China to come back anytime soon.
Trump’s Trade War Left Lasting Damage
Trump’s tariff war backfired—farmers are the ones paying the price.
What makes this situation even harder to swallow is that it was avoidable. Farmers in Missouri and across the Midwest overwhelmingly supported Donald Trump, believing he would fight for better trade deals. Instead, his tariff war triggered Chinese retaliation that shut American crops out of the market. Rather than standing up for family farms, Trump gambled with their livelihoods. Now, the result is clear: unsold crops, falling prices, and the risk of losing farms that have been part of our communities for generations.
Missouri Farmers Deserve Better
Family farms are the backbone of Missouri—and they deserve leaders who won’t sell them out.
Our rural communities can’t afford more reckless policies. Farmers deserve fair access to global markets, steady trade relationships, and leadership that understands economic policy. Missouri agriculture is the backbone of our economy, and family farms should never be sacrificed for political games. The damage has already been done, but moving forward, we need trade policy that puts Missouri farmers first—not last.
The bottom line: Missouri farmers are being crushed by unsold soybeans and lost markets. Trump’s ignorance of trade and economics caused this crisis. And unless we change course, family farms across our state risk being lost forever.
By Ricky Dana, Candidate for U.S. House – Missouri’s 4th District
Sources:
Farmers in US Midwest squeezed by Trump tariffs and climate crisis
Donald Trump calls on China to quadruple US soyabean imports as trade deadline looms
Soybean Outlook Dims Without a China Deal
China Snubs US Soybeans, Farmers Face Hard Choices