The harvest season this year has brought uncertainty for soybean farmers in Illinois amid a trade dispute between the United States and China.

The tariffs imposed this year under the Trump administration have meant China -- Illinois farmers‘ biggest buyer -- has refused to buy soybeans.

“That’s a big deal,” said Chris Gould, a third-generation Illinois soybean farmer. “What we really need to do is let the free market sort this out, and the free market includes exports.”

Illinois is the top soybean producing state in the country. Illinois farmers export more than $957 million in soybeans to China, according to the Illinois Dept. of Agriculture.

“This trade disruption has some real impacts for rural America, so we're hoping things get settled soon," said Brian Duncan, president of the Il

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