Just days ahead of the typical U.S. export season for soybeans, China, the world’s top soybean importer, hasn’t bought a single cargo ship’s worth of soybeans. At the Farm Progress Show, Caleb Ragland, president of the American Soybean Association (ASA), said trade is obviously a huge concern for U.S. soybean farmers.

“We’re obviously in a very difficult spot with China right now. They’re 25 percent of U.S. soybean demand, and right now, we have zero sales on the books due to this trade war we’re in. We are working tirelessly, both as farmer leaders and also with our wonderful staff, to convey the message of how important trade is for our soybean farm families across this country.”

That’s not the only policy item on the ASA to-do list.

“We’re also working on regulatory issues, biofuels, tax, law, you name it. We have a whole lot of top issues, but trade is certainly top of mind at the moment.”

It’s especially important as Ragland said soybean harvest is coming up quickly.

“On my farm, we’re growing soybeans, corn, and winter wheat. Every soybean I grow is double-cropped, which is a bit unique, but corn shelling has started in our area. I hope to shell corn next week. There’s been a trend in recent years to plant some soybeans first, the guys who are growing full season, and there are soybeans being combined an hour south of me now, and a lot of them as you get down into Tennessee, you know, farther. But the soybean harvest is coming in September.”