China has purchased a record amount of soybeans this marketing year, but none from the US. Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley says it’s a problem the White House must address.

“I think we’re finding a tougher position, and I think we have a president that’s reluctant to challenge China in the same way he did in 2019 on agricultural things. And until we get tougher and we have some leverage, I don’t see a good future.”

 The senior senator from Iowa says President Trump’s on-again-off-again tariffs on hard-to-get items has painted the administration into a corner.

“Putting 50% tariffs on things that have steel in them, when you can’t buy those things in the United States and you need them for your tractor to be finally manufactured. There should be tariffs on things that you can’t get in the United States. Why drive up the price of John Deeres because of a tariff on something they need for the tractor that they can’t even get in the United States? It’s a stupid policy.”

Grassley says agriculture needs urgent help and a re-imagined ag policy.

“We’ve got this farm crisis now, and this president should deal with this farm crisis right now. I’m hearing from bankers. I’m hearing from people that are getting pressed by their bankers to maybe sell part of their farm. So wanted to sell to somebody that, when they build up their equity, they might be able to buy it back. We haven’t had this kind of stress in agriculture since the 1980s.”