SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WTVO) — Illinois soybean farmers continue to face challenges during the harvest season due to tariffs on China.
China, which purchased $12 billion worth of U.S. soybeans last year, has not bought any this year, significantly impacting the market for Illinois farmers.
Bryan Severs, the chair of the Illinois Soybean Association, acknowledged the complexity of the trade situation, noting that while some believe other countries have taken advantage of the U.S. in trade deals, the immediate effect is a loss for farmers.
Severs highlighted that around 40% of the state's soybeans were exported to China last year, a gap that now needs to be filled by finding new markets or methods.
"Indonesia is one, Philippines is one. There’s a lot of different countries that, we don’t hav