Farmer says ‘we’re in a very dire situation’—with zero soybean orders from China

Calip Rajland, president of the American soybean association and farmer of Kentucky’s ninth generation, issued a flagrant warning about the crisis facing 500,000 soybeans in the country. “For the moment, we are in a very terrible condition,” Rajland said in a video of Tiktok, which caught the national attention to the distress of the farmers.

In a separate interview for CNN, Rajland stressed the importance of China to American agriculture: “China takes more than soybeans we have more than all other foreign clients combined,” noting that 50 % of soybeans were exported and that China represents a quarter of total demand.

The absence of Chinese orders is a great departure from regular trading patterns. China usually represents more than 25 % of the total US soybean purchases, with approximately a third of the country’s annual sales that were usually booked at this point of the season. This translates into about 8 % -9 % of the entire United States crop, which is usually sold to China now, is currently sitting at scratch.

The commercial conflict for farmers who are already struggling to the brink of the abyss. Rajland CNN told that the prices of soybeans have decreased by 40 % from their levels three years ago, while production costs and interest rates increased. He said: “We are mainly looking for losses for the next year if the prices of basic commodities do not improve.”

Current equestrian futures for uncertainty reflects uncertainty, trading about $ 10.10 per bottle for September contracts – less than the estimated production costs of about $ 11.03 per Poilele. The Ragland farm is currently generating $ 750,000 of losses, forcing it to rely on loans to fill the financial gap.

He told CNN: “At the present time, we are growing a crop that appears to be produced with a loss,” CNN told CNN. “By the fall, when soybeans are harvested and ready for sale, we will need a fundamental improvement in our markets or it will become more striking for farm families all over this country.”

Financial pressure extends beyond individual operations. “There is no big room for error now in the budgets,” Rajland said, stressing that all 500,000 soy farmers are all parts of the country facing similar challenges.

Economic risks go beyond agriculture

The effects of more than individual farms exceeded. Agriculture contributes to $ 9.5 trillion for the US economy annually, which represents 18.7 % of the national economic product. The agricultural sector supports directly and indirectly more than a million American jobs, as soybeans exports alone generate more than 231,000 jobs through agriculture, manufacturing, transportation and relevant industries.

Rajland has highlighted these broader economic ties in his CNN: “This flows to our rural societies. Our rural societies are many people around this country. This affects small businesses. This only affects the entire infrastructure within our societies.”

In 2023, every billion dollars in US agricultural exports supported about 5,997 jobs. Soybeans supported the bulk of the corn alone more than 212,520 jobs. The effect of the economic multiplier means the disturbances that were combined in soybean trade through manufacturing, logistics and rural societies at the country level.

Commercial tensions reshape global markets

The confrontation stems from the ongoing trade tensions in the United States of China, which mainly changed global soybean trade. American soybeans are currently facing a 20 % defect in the revenge tariff compared to South American competitors, which prompted the total fees on American soybeans to 34 % when other taxes are associated.

China has responded by increasing purchases significantly from Brazil. Chinese imports of soybeans have achieved record levels in July, largely driven by Brazilian exports. Brazil exported approximately 15.7 million tons of soybeans in March 2025, with three quarters for China-the highest monthly size that was ever exported to China. In 2024, China received 71 % of the total number of soybeans from Brazil, an increase of previous years.

In a letter to President Trump on August 19, the American Soya Association warned that “China has contracted with Brazil to meet the needs of the coming months to avoid buying any soybeans from the United States.”

government-action">Rapid government work calls

Despite his support for Trump, Rajland has become increasingly loud about the need for an immediate commercial solution. “We strongly need to correct something quickly with China, our largest export agent,” CNN told CNN. “We want the administration to encourage a proactive commercial deal.”

When asked about the administration’s calls for patience, Rajland emphasized the sensitive nature of the crisis. Farmers “plan a crop that appears to be produced with a loss”, and without improvements in the market before the harvest, the situation will deteriorate more.

The broader agricultural sector is witnessing what industrial groups describe as an economic crisis. The National Corn Garrows Association indicates a decrease in corn prices by more than 50 % of its highest levels in 2022, with production costs decreased by only 3 % during the same period. This agricultural recession comes as the US soybean crop is expected to be 2025 about 4.3 billion inch, the sixth largest harvest in the country in history. However, without the Chinese demand, this abundant supply threatens to increase prices and increase the financial distress of farmers.

The position of the 2018-2020 trade war, during which US agriculture lost $ 26 billion, with nearly $ 20 billion of soybeans alone. Soybeans made up 71 % of the agricultural losses experienced by American farmers during this previous conflict.

Time runs out for the solution

The urgency reflects the seasonal nature of agricultural markets. As the harvesting approach and storage facilities approaches unnoticed grains, prices usually face additional pressure. Without a decision soon, farmers may have to sell their crops at very reduced prices or face expensive storage costs during the winter months.

The current trade dynamics show limited progress towards the solution. While President Trump signed an executive in August that extends the current tariff truce with China by 90 days until November 10, the extension mainly addresses wider trade issues instead of agriculture concerns.

“We want to keep this nation strong. We are the backbone of America,” Rajland told the crisis in terms of national power.

Although admitting that he believes Trump “loves farmers” and that he “is trying to do what is appropriate for this country”, he stressed the need to take immediate action: “We must make sure that we are alive during these difficult times.”

For this story, luck The artificial intelligence is used to help with a preliminary draft. Check an editor of the accuracy of the information before publishing.

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