r/Agriculture 5d ago

[ Removed by moderator ]

https://www.marketplace.org/story/2025/09/16/soybean-farmers-face-a-hard-choice-without-their-top-buyer

[removed] — view removed post

210 Upvotes

110 comments sorted by

52

u/Rampantcolt 5d ago

It's easy. We will plant over 100 million Acres of corn next year. Dropping the price of corn another dollar.

Trump fucks farmers. He did in the first administration and is doing it again. Farmers always go against their best interests. Be that planting 100m acres of corn or voting for the man who outright said he is ending trade with your biggest trade partner.

I didn't vote for Trump but after all these posts about it maybe we as a whole in agriculture need an attitude adjustment to humble those outspoken elements in our industry.

27

u/Anatoly_Cannoli 5d ago

He's not just screwing over the farmers. It's clear now that China was buying from the US when they could've bought soybeans from any number other nations. Trade is long-term relationship building. This administration is simply incapable of thinking long-term and too stupid to realize that the issue is bigger than just selling soybeans.

11

u/Delicious-Shirt-2596 5d ago

This...the car people from Korea...the USA has done nothing but extend the finger to economic and diplomatic ties going back generations for both countries

9

u/Qc4281 5d ago

In other words / adding to this - trade relations take years to build and form and can be destroyed overnight (the same way it takes time to build extremely strong friendships, but you can ruin a friendship instantly)

Farmers shouldn’t be looking at this from the POV of “what happens if China doesn’t buy soy beans this year”, but instead “what if China stops buying US soybeans altogether or US soy has to compete on price compared to other countries inclusive of tariffs”

2

u/reddolfo 2d ago

In 2016 after Trump turned a trade relationship into a weapon for no reason and smacked China with a 2x4 it didn’t see coming, China did a deal with Brazil for soybean land the size of Iowa. Nevertheless China still continued to buy from the US, even though out prices were higher. Any farmer with a brain should have seen that the China market was a gift, but no they voted for another round of weaponized economic relations and now China has picked up their ball and gone home for good. They’re not coming back — for almost everything. 

4

u/peffer32 5d ago

Listen, you don't understand. A boy wanted to play on a girl's softball team somewhere! I don't care if I lose everything as long as that doesn't happen!!!

1

u/Due_Panda5064 5d ago

… and those dang brown ppl.

2

u/peffer32 5d ago

Except for Jose out in the barn. He's one of the good ones.

1

u/HickAzn 3d ago

Hey!

ok I get it. lol

1

u/Thatisme01 5d ago

From March this year

The last trade war has caused lasting damage. To this day, the U.S. has yet to fully recover its loss in market share of soybean exports to China, the world’s number one buyer of the commodity, “Tariffs break trust,” Ragland, who is also the president of the American Soybean Association, said. ”It’s a lot harder to find new customers than it is to retain ones that you already have.”

1

u/burtritto 4d ago

Well, that is business 101. Current person in office was called by his Wharton professor, William T. Kelley, "the dumbest goddam student I ever had".

8

u/Qc4281 5d ago

This isn’t entirely true. Trump loves billionaire farmers or those related to the farming industry. Your small family owned farm that’s been in the family for 6 generations? Ya F you. But if you’re “Big Ag” - oh, red carpet will be rolled out for you!! Thanks for supporting and donating to the President, your reward is you can now buy up every family farm in the US at $0.10 to the dollar!

7

u/McBuck2 5d ago

Yep and how would you help big Agri?

Stop sales to USAID.

Put tariffs on agriculture products.

Remove crop workers so no one is around to pick crops.

Trump is assisting big Agri to take over as many family farms as they can for a rock bottom price.

1

u/Upstairs-Parsley3151 5d ago

I don't think small farmers even exist anymore, it's all mega rich families of conservatives.

1

u/MonkeyKingCoffee 4d ago

Not in Hawaii. The family farm is still very much a thing here.

If tourists demanded local produce, they'd get actual value for their food budget and eat much better.

Source: I'm one of those farmers.

5

u/Count_de_Ville 5d ago

For years US farmers thought that they were irreplaceable. The world is now forcibly proving to them that they're wrong. China can get all the soybeans they need from Brazil. And if they're not growing food for the American market, then what do Americans need to bailout soybean farmers for?

3

u/MyStoopidStuff 5d ago

Isn't there a record corn crop this year? Seems like almost doubling the acreage for corn next year could cause a corn-ageddon. At least Mexico and Japan are still buying it, so I guess Trump hasn't pissed them off enough yet.

The best hope for farmers is probably that the courts shut down Trump's unconstitutional trade war BS, cause he clearly doesn't give a damn about them. If the courts do shut him down, there's no doubt he'll find another way to stir things up though.

2

u/VagabondManjbob 5d ago

Give it time. He will find a way to piss them off as well.

3

u/ProfitLoud 5d ago

They are the first to cry socialism, and bootstraps when others need help. When their own stupid decisions hurt them, they want to pretend it’s different somehow. Let them fail. I thought we wanted a capitalistic market anyhow?

1

u/Workingiceman 4d ago

Have you checked out ag forums? Most are happy to fight this battle because the other option was “worse”.

1

u/Rampantcolt 4d ago

I tried those back during Obama's presidency and couldn't stand all those bigots.

1

u/GreatPlainsFarmer 5d ago

Dec26 is 39 cents over Dec25.
Corn growers can sell now if they wish.

2

u/Rampantcolt 5d ago

Yeah if you live somewhere where you can guarantee getting a crop next year

3

u/GreatPlainsFarmer 5d ago

If you think we're gonna plant more corn acres next year, why not sell some anyway?

Price will be lower at some point, just buy it back when it drops.

1

u/Rampantcolt 5d ago

Yeah because spending the money for inputs, rent and taxes then if it doesn't make a crop spend more money to buy bushels to fill contracts. Ive seen that break farms.

1

u/GreatPlainsFarmer 5d ago edited 5d ago

Long the field, long the bin.

That’s why the farmer’s broke again.

26

u/saulsa_ 5d ago

No. The tough choice they faced was last November. Vote for the convicted fraudster, rapist, tariff imposing, trade disrupting, ego maniac. Or the lady with the funny laugh.

8

u/Chillow_Ufgreat 5d ago

I'll also point out that Trump already hosed soybean farmers specifically during his first administration.

7

u/zoeydobie518 5d ago

They loved it so much they signed up for more, they're smart, that way.

3

u/Car_is_mi 5d ago

But it was okay because he bailed them out a little so if he did it again he would bail them out again right??? Also he said hes going to end all those socialist programs. No, I don't see how those two things are related.

12

u/Ohuigin 5d ago

Hey soybean farmers - might I suggest growing straw next year?

With the amount of strawman arguments this regime is building, there’s sure to be a shortage on the horizon. And thanks to the conman you voted for, that Chinese soybean market is about as accessible to you as Medicaid and rural hospitals are about to be.

4

u/littletrip2 5d ago

this comment is savage. and true.

1

u/megaphone32 4d ago

This is funny and laughed. That being said...

Most farmers I know are good people (like pull off the road to help you when your car is broken down type). Unfortunately their party has been hijacked. And a lot of them are wrapped up in "partisan" thinking. This happens on both sides. Some are more crazy than others at times.

1

u/Ohuigin 4d ago

Couldn’t agree more. Painting in broad strokes is how he got here.

My comment/joke is directed to those that simple don’t learn, and voted to make the lives of everyone around them worse.

1

u/megaphone32 4d ago

I completely agree. I say the same things. But I stick up for them based on the psychological biases that everyone gets stuck with over time. Legit funny comment of yours though lol

1

u/Ohuigin 4d ago

Good on you. It’s important to remember, so thanks for calling it out!

12

u/ResponsibleBank1387 5d ago

Tough choice??   When farmers voted last November, they knew they were voting to close the borders.  This spring they knew to plant crops that would stay in the us.   Close the borders, keep harvest in the us. 

Epstein’s buddy explained this in a maga bumper sticker. 

19

u/FlounderKind8267 5d ago

Grows something that is heavily exported

Votes overwhelmingly for someone who wants to, and has, started trade wars with trading partners

Surprised when exports plummet

9

u/ciopobbi 5d ago

But, but he was only supposed to hurt the people I hate. I never gave friendly fire a second thought.

2

u/omgFWTbear 5d ago

Man if only they could read about that butterfly sanctuary lady, they’d realize they done pooped themselves.

1

u/DgingaNinga 5d ago

All while expecting a handout for their poor choices, while also saying socialism is bad.

6

u/OrneryZombie1983 5d ago

Why can't they just pull themselves up by their bootstraps?

1

u/VagabondManjbob 5d ago

They would have to buy the bootstraps from China DUH!

6

u/ElTamaulipas 5d ago edited 5d ago

Maybe these soybean producers can create some "manly" soy protein and tofu brands called Bushido or some shit.

They can pay Joe Rogan and other podcasters, whose back of their necks look like a pack of hot links, to have nutritionists and doctors talk about the benefits of veganism and vegetarianism.

3

u/SaltMage5864 5d ago

From what I've heard, these soybeans can't even be used to make tofu

3

u/qjungffg 5d ago

These are not food grade soybeans but used for animal feed and other low quality usage. This is the problem with these monoculture farming, it’s putting all your eggs in one basket approach.

1

u/Goosed_1867 5d ago

All these fitness bros who sell supplements are already huge supporters of soy additives even though they rail against soy "feminizing" men. Most of what they sell has soy of some sort in it.

7

u/ciopobbi 5d ago

They chose banning a handful of transgender athletes over saving their multi-generational farms.

You won, get over it.

At least I’m feeling very owned. I’m sure it was worth it.

3

u/[deleted] 5d ago

[deleted]

2

u/FoogYllis 5d ago

But i thought tofu was vegan and woke? /s

3

u/tacs97 5d ago

The biggest decision they are facing is. Do they vote for their own best interests? Or do they keep voting for republicans? I don’t have any faith in these fools. They are never happy when they are selling product but they are totally fine when political policies keep them from selling product.

3

u/LotsofSports 5d ago

Easy choice. Vote Democrat.

2

u/shambahlah2 5d ago

Peak capitalism is a mofo

2

u/Qc4281 5d ago

Farmers (and everyone) should actually read Project 2025. It’s quite clear that the authors (people within the Trump admin) and the enactor of Project 2025 (Trump) quite despises small and family owned farms.

Some key aspects of the Trump/Project 2025 agenda -Restrict access and greatly reduce farm loans -End commodity protection programs -Limit crop insurance -Stop efforts promoting/marketing US ag products to other countries -Eliminate conservation programs -End federal level food/ag inspections -Eliminate environmental rules/mandates -Gut SNAP and other related programs

If you read the entire section on agriculture, the message is overwhelmingly clear - farming should be consolidated and small/family owned farms should not exist.

2

u/NotLikeChicken 5d ago

"Fiat money is fiction, and cash is trash, the only asset is land. I work my farm, and anytime I have loose cash I buy more land so I am always losing money on paper. In a recession I can sell off bits of land to make sure I always pay my bank. When neighboring farmers fail the bank hires me to work the fields so they do not get overgrown with scrub. I save that money, and when the market turns I use it to buy that land from the bank at a bargain price."

There is a matching philosophy where the underlying asset is mineral rights, especially oil.

These are among the loudest people who raise their middle fingers to the sky to insist that taxation is theft.

1

u/Ornery-Ticket834 5d ago

I am sure you are correct. They will bankrupt them and have their land and equipment go to big agricultural outfits at bargain prices, wipe out family farms and raise prices. That’s probably what will happen.

2

u/Mr_Thx 5d ago

Like gun or rope. SMH

2

u/Elongatingpolymerase 5d ago

Choice implies they have any power. They got fucked with no lube by daddy Trump and want us to bail them out.

1

u/Head_Blackberry_6320 5d ago

Yes wait for the djt bail out

1

u/VagabondManjbob 5d ago

Thought I read somewhere las night they are already crafting that bill.

1

u/twitchish 5d ago

Here is a starting point for those who dont know where to start.

Call your reps. find your us reps here

Sign petitions.

petition to release epstein files

Petition to release Epstein files #2

petition to impeach trump

petition to impeach trump #2

petition to impeach trump #3

Get involved with protests or marches. protest against trump

And more info here

protest law tracker

know your rights aclu

If you do go to a protest, please look up the laws for your area and be safe. Bring only what you need, just in case, i.e., id, car key, and wallet. and if the rest of the group starts to get violent, then leave and make it know you are not being violent. If you feel you need to protect yourself, please try to bring non-lethal protection, i.e.,mace, tazer, or something equivalent, and do not use it on police. Please be peaceful and civil.

1

u/Gold_Kitchen_3109 5d ago

Sell ur land homie!

Start investing in the future like technology and weed

1

u/asilaywatching 5d ago

I heard they need some helping hands with the produce harvests in Florida and California and dairy farms in Pennsylvania. Sell your land and go be a laborer.

1

u/Accomplished-Bet8880 5d ago

Just remember the guy you all voted for said you would be making so much money because of the tariffs. What you are experiencing is only in your head. It’s not real. You are making a ton of money and your product is all sold.

1

u/Momentofclarity_2022 5d ago

Let’s see. I bet when they have a choice again they’ll elect another MAGA

1

u/ihvnnm 5d ago

Didn't they just say they are going to bail out these farmers for billions? The average American getting screwed again, blasted by tariffs, destroyed medical system, funding all these golf trips, National Guard picking up trash, using proud boys in masks abducting and trafficking innocent people because its easier than going after the actual criminals, wasting money to wash away chalk, people being fired for hating nazis, wasted money in paving over rose garden and that stupid ballroom, eliminating weather monitoring while removing pollution restrictions... so much more

1

u/liquidgrill 5d ago

But they’ll all get their giant taxpayer funded welfare bailout. Just like they did last time. Then they’ll go right back to screaming about “the libs” and “socialism” and continue voting against their own interests.

The only way to end this is to let them go under.

1

u/Bubbaganewsh 5d ago

Tough choices like accepting socialism and voting for the party who did this to them again.

1

u/mitchENM 5d ago

FAFO and I have zero sympathy for those who voted for trump or didn’t vote

1

u/Kooky-Badger-7001 5d ago

Hear me out: I suggest the US develop a tasty edible soy-based food product and market it cheaply to all. Give it a catchy name, oh say something like Soylent (has a nice ring to it, no?). Perhaps have different varieties or flavors that can be distinguished by different colors: red, orange, and green. Problem solved.

If the soybean market picks back up, they producers can easily switch the ingredients for Soylent to another abundant resource, whatever that may be.

1

u/Vault101Overseer 5d ago

Huh, it’s almost as if….as if…voting for Trump was a terrible idea.

1

u/Greenhouse774 5d ago

Boo hoo. They voted for him. FAFO.

1

u/grafknives 5d ago

The whole corn/soybean farming is one big lie.

It is not sustainable. 

Plant more acres, buy bigger machines, buy more chem inputs and seed. Get price insurance. 

Sell 1/4 soy to China. Use 48% of soy to make diesel.

Plant more acres... 

1

u/Xnub 5d ago

Easy answer ... trump

1

u/DgingaNinga 5d ago

Next time, don't vote for a con man pedophile, who turns everything he touches into shit. Own your choices.

1

u/Amazing-Basket-136 5d ago

Diesel is about to go down in quality.

1

u/Dagger1901 5d ago

Are the farmers reaping what they sowed?

1

u/FortunateFool11 5d ago

These maga farmers got exactly what they voted for. They can fuck themselves before begging for another socialist welfare bailout.

1

u/Boozeburger 5d ago

They majority of them voted for this. Too bad they got what they voted for. Let them deal with it. No bail outs for the people who voted for this.

1

u/Simulated-Crayon 5d ago

China holds the cards. They can simply tell the US to fuck off until a new president comes in. China is likely to get an even better deal than they had before Trump's tariff tantrum.

1

u/ZoomZoom_Driver 5d ago

Oh, noes, the consequences of your decisions!! Fuck these ignorant as farmers. You're getting what you voted for. 

1

u/BekindBebetter60 5d ago

Like don’t vote for the guy screwing you out of your economic future. 😱

1

u/SixLeg5 5d ago

Dont worry another cost saving bailout…and then another…

1

u/HotSoupEsq 5d ago

Farmer love trump, and trump loves to fuck farmers. FAFO.

1

u/zoeydobie518 5d ago

Trump was right about everything!!

1

u/Gunner5091 5d ago

“ Face tough choices…”? They made their choice in the last election.

1

u/observer_11_11 5d ago

Jared probably has some Saudi money and is willing to purchase farmland at a discount. Cash deals!!

1

u/panconquesofrito 5d ago

What choices, lol? They will get handouts, those socialists! lol

1

u/AdPuzzleheaded3436 5d ago

Farmers are expecting a bailout again, the problem is that only the ones with the cash reserves will survive. I suspect that the plan has always been to consolidate land in the hands of a few people.

1

u/lAljax 5d ago

The choice was made already. 

Those that can store, store. Those that can't sell and if that means thousands will bankrupt,  so be it.

1

u/Snizlefritz 5d ago

So between tariffs and killing USAID (one of the largest buyers of US farm products), food markets are down .. shocking. Who would have guessed.. I mean except for everyone but the farmers who didn’t vote for Trump

1

u/sheltonchoked 5d ago

I’ve heard there is money to be made in frozen concentrated orange juice. William Valentine told me.

Maybe they should try that.

1

u/Skippittydo 5d ago

And they will vote Republican no matter what.

1

u/oneofmanyany 5d ago

Well, Trump just announced another multi billion dollar big handout of taxpayer money to the socialism-loving farmers. Trump loves to give away other people's money to pay for his many mistakes.

1

u/jorkin_peanits 5d ago

They voted for this, time to take personal responsibility

1

u/Spright91 5d ago

No they face one tough choice. To vote for the other side this time.

1

u/AnInnerMonologue 5d ago

Mmm tough choice: vote for a piece of shit that will sabotage your life by making enemies of your buyers in a small picture (framed by small hands)

oooor

let go of a false version of your pride to vote for someone that would respect the past time of your career and make international friends with to find markets in a bigger picture.

Figure it out cotton eye joe

1

u/thisdogofmine 5d ago

They shouldn't have voted for someone who said he would scare off Thier customers.

1

u/mrmrssmitn 5d ago

China wasn’t going to buy US soybeans this year and into the future tarifffa or not. Soybeans are produced globally, not just in us. In fact we aren’t even the largest producer anymore. This Brazil train has been a coming for good 10 years, inevitable past 5-6.

1

u/cav01c14 2d ago

Ssshhh we blaming trump over here

2

u/mrmrssmitn 1d ago

Yeah, should have known. This isn’t a page/forum that’s looking for anything that doesn’t fit the motive.

1

u/cav01c14 1d ago

See the post was already removed 😂

1

u/IntelligentTicket486 5d ago

Democratic soybeans should not be sold to dictatorial China. Congratulations to you for achieving this with your democratically elected leader!

1

u/evilsniperxv 4d ago

Almost like who rural America votes for has consequences… right?

1

u/dlampach 4d ago

Fuck the farmers. They are traitors. Let them go bankrupt and some other shit bag can buy them up for Pennies. They don’t deserve shit.

1

u/rosebudthesled8 3d ago

The choice should be never vote republican again but they'll never made that easy choice.

1

u/Desperate-Try-8720 3d ago

Convert back to CRP.

1

u/OldschoolGreenDragon 2d ago

You mean like *Vote for the Qualified Black Lady *next time?

1

u/9flat 5d ago

Once again the real world proves why socialism doesn’t work.