{"id":78357,"date":"2018-07-25T13:10:19","date_gmt":"2018-07-25T18:10:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/?p=78357"},"modified":"2019-05-18T12:55:40","modified_gmt":"2019-05-18T17:55:40","slug":"illinois-soybean-farmers-wary-of-trumps-proposed-farm-bailout","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/illinois-soybean-farmers-wary-of-trumps-proposed-farm-bailout\/","title":{"rendered":"Illinois soybean farmers wary of Trump\u2019s proposed farm bailout"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Brady Jones<\/strong>
\nMedill Reports<\/em><\/p>\n

President Donald Trump\u2019s announcement<\/a> July 24 pledging up to $12 billion in aid for American farmers, intended to offset potential losses from recent tariffs imposed by China, is receiving a lukewarm response as harvest nears in Illinois.<\/p>\n

Among a multitude of American exports targeted by China, the 25 percent tariff on soybeans stands out as particularly significant for Illinois. The state ranks first in the country in soybean acreage and production, producing 611.9 million bushels in 2017, according to the Illinois Soybean Association. The United States sends an estimated 1.1 billion bushels of soybeans to China annually.<\/p>\n

While he acknowledged the concerns voiced by American farmers about the financial impact of the competing tariffs between the U.S. and China, Trump issued the directive for the temporary aid while additional negotiations continue to take place between the two countries. Local soybean farmers, while appreciative of the financial assistance, say they don\u2019t see this as a viable long-term solution.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf trade is our problem, aid handouts are a poor solution,\u201d said Lynn Rohrscheib, chairwoman of Illinois Soybean Growers, an organization with a membership of more than 43,000 Illinois soybean growers. \u201cAs producers, we would rather be able to sell our crop for a fair price and grow both agricultural export and market opportunities. Government handouts only provide short-term relief. The effect on our soybean supply chains could be disastrous if the U.S. government continues to pick winners and losers amidst this tariff spat.\u201d
\n
\nThe United States grows approximately 35 percent of the world\u2019s soybeans, according to the United States Department of Agriculture. And the tariffs imposed by China are predicted to decrease production\u2014opening up a channel for countries such as Brazil to assume a larger share of the market. Having other countries competing for China\u2019s business could force lower prices and provide a barrier to re-entry for American producers if the tariffs are eliminated.<\/p>\n

Soybean producers are not the only local farming industry to feel exposed by the recent tariffs, as China also imposed a new 25 percent tariff on U.S. pork products. Illinois pork producers are connected to fluctuations in soybean pricing and production. Many pork producers use soybeans as a part of the feed for their livestock, and they are concerned about the myriad impacts of a potential trade war between the United States and China.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe pork industry exports over 25 percent of our product, so the tariff issues have impacted our industry,\u201d said Jennifer Tirey, executive director of the Illinois Pork Producers Association. \u201cAs for the soybean industry, our hogs consume over 700,000 tons of soy meal annually in Illinois alone.\u201d<\/p>\n

Illinois ranks fourth in the country in pork production. The pork industry contributes $1.8 billion and 10,000 jobs to the Illinois economy, according to the Illinois Pork Producers Association.<\/p>\n

Beth Osmund, of Cedar Valley Sustainable Farm in Ottawa, Illinois, uses soybeans to feed her pigs. She said that while she is worried about the recent tariffs, her small family-operated farm hasn\u2019t seen the direct impact yet.<\/p>\n

\u201cHopefully we won\u2019t see anything,\u201d she said. Osmund purchases her feed, which is a mixture of products that includes soybeans, from a local co-op. She doesn\u2019t think it will be felt as much at the local, family-run farms as it will for the larger exporters. According to the Illinois Farm Bureau, 86.5 percent of farms are classified as individual or family operations. However, that doesn\u2019t ease the concern of the industry leaders, who continue to push for the elimination of all tariffs.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe continue to advocate for an end to this trade war and echo industry concerns for trade, not aid,\u201d said Rohrscheib. \u201cWe recognize the administration\u2019s actions as being heard, but feel that any solution should involve rescinding the tariffs.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI believe all commodity groups are supportive of resolving the trade issues as soon as possible,\u201d said Tirey.<\/p>\n

Photo at top: Shoppers browse the produce at the Logan Square Farmers Market on Sunday. Both consumers and producers are concerned about the effects of the recent tariffs on American farm exports. (Photo: Brady Jones\/MEDILL)<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Brady Jones Medill Reports President Donald Trump\u2019s announcement July 24 pledging up to $12 billion in aid for American farmers, intended to offset potential losses from recent tariffs imposed by China, is receiving a lukewarm response as harvest nears in Illinois. Among a multitude of American exports targeted by China, the 25 percent tariff […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":562,"featured_media":78358,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[27,28,29,2951,30,4390],"tags":[1138,91,99,677],"class_list":["post-78357","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-business","category-general-interest","category-health-and-science","category-politicsnational-security","category-public-affairs","category-summer-2018","tag-donald-trump","tag-environment","tag-food","tag-politics"],"yoast_head":"\nIllinois soybean farmers wary of Trump\u2019s proposed farm bailout - Medill Reports Chicago<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/illinois-soybean-farmers-wary-of-trumps-proposed-farm-bailout\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Illinois soybean farmers wary of Trump\u2019s proposed farm bailout - Medill Reports Chicago\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"By Brady Jones Medill Reports President Donald Trump\u2019s announcement July 24 pledging up to $12 billion in aid for American farmers, intended to offset potential losses from recent tariffs imposed by China, is receiving a lukewarm response as harvest nears in Illinois. 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