Farmer says 'we're in a very dire situation'—with zero soybean orders from China

Caleb Ragland , a Kentucky farmer and president of the American Soybean Association, is warning of an agricultural crisis as China has placed zero soybean orders for the upcoming harvest. It’s a departure from typical patterns, where 25% of the U.S. crop goes to China. With prices 40% below three-year highs and production costs rising, hundreds of thousands of farmers face losses unless there’s a trade resolution between the two countries.

American soybean farmers are heading into harvest season without a single order from China, historically their largest customer, raising alarm bells about the agricultural sector’s stability and broader implications for the U.S. economy.

Caleb Ragland , president of the American Soybean Association and a ninth-generation farmer from Kentucky, issued