The Journal. The Bean at the Center of the Trade War
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Sep 25, 2025 It's harvest season, but Iowa farmer Scott Dierickx reveals he's facing losses on soybeans. The podcast dives into how China wields soybeans as a weapon in the U.S. trade war, shifting from being a top importer to seeking supplies from Brazil. With tariffs and retaliatory actions disrupting markets, local prices plummet, causing a financial squeeze for farmers. As global demand changes, the discussion highlights the urgent need for agricultural resilience and the challenges of relying on a single market.
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Morning Runs To The River
- Scott Dierickx remembers riding with his father before dawn to load soybeans onto barges on the Mississippi River.
- Those beans would travel to the Gulf and then be exported, often to China.
China Dominates Soybean Demand
- China is the world's largest soy importer and historically bought nearly a quarter of U.S. soybeans.
- When China stops buying, American soybean prices and farm incomes quickly collapse.
Soybeans Fuel The Meat Supply Chain
- Soybeans are widespread across the Midwest but less visually imposing than corn.
- They feed livestock and underpin the meat-protein supply chain, driving huge demand.