Start Here Soy Be It: How a Trade War Hit Farms
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Nov 28, 2025 Matt Rivers, ABC News correspondent, provides an insightful look into the U.S.-China trade war's effects on soybean farmers. He explains why soybeans are crucial to American agriculture and how tariffs targeted this key export. Through on-the-ground interviews in Nebraska, listeners hear firsthand accounts of financial hardships faced by farmers. Rivers discusses the limitations of the China purchase deal and China's growing investments in South America, which could reshape the soybean market. He also delves into U.S. policy implications and the future of soybean farming.
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China's Protein Boom Drove Soy Demand
- China became the world's largest soybean consumer as its diet shifted toward more pork and protein.
- U.S. soy exports scaled massively because soymeal feeds livestock, not because Chinese people ate more tofu.
Tariffs Turn Soy Into A Political Weapon
- Tariffs in the U.S.-China trade war made Chinese buyers cut U.S. soybean purchases to retaliate.
- That move directly cost U.S. farmers billions by collapsing export demand overnight.
Nebraska Farmer Speaks On Financial Pain
- Scott Thompson, a fourth-generation Nebraska farmer, says he's operating below cost of production and losing money.
- He still supports Trump for manufacturing jobs but calls current farm conditions 'short-term pain for long-term gain.'