August 21, 2025
Soybean Farmers “Can’t Survive” Another China Trade War
Industry reports say America’s soybean farmers are nearing a financial cliff and won’t survive another drawn-out trade war with China, one of the world’s biggest soybean buyers. Caleb Ragland, president of the American Soybean Association, sent a letter to the White House urging the administration to reach a deal with China to remove the duties and, if possible, to include significant soybean buys. “U.S. soybean farmers can’t survive a prolonged dispute with our largest customer,” Ragland said. “Soybean farmers are under extreme financial stress as prices drop and costs for inputs and equipment continue to climb.” In response to a Bloomberg article, the White House said the president “cares about farmers.” Ragland’s letter points out that China hasn’t purchased any U.S. soybeans for the months ahead as America quickly approaches harvest. With no deal between China and the U.S., the extra bushels will make a bad situation much worse.
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Family Farms Make Up 95 Percent of All U.S. Farms
The 2022 Census of Agriculture Typology Report shows that family farms make up 95 percent of all U.S. farms. The report, released by the National Agricultural Statistics Service, focuses on the “family farm,” which is defined as any farm where the majority of the business is owned by the producer and individuals related to the producer. “Classifying America’s 1.9 million farms to better reflect their variety is critical to evaluating and reporting on U.S. agriculture,” said NASS Administrator Joseph Parson. “Typology allows us to more meaningfully explore the demographics of who is farming and ranching today as well as their impact on the economy and communities across the country.” The data shows that small family farms with income under $350,000 per year make up 85 percent of all U.S. farms. They also have 39 percent of the total land in farms, and 14 percent of the value of all agricultural products sold.
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Nebraska Senator Honored with the Golden Plow Award
The American Farm Bureau presented Senator Deb Fischer (R-NE) with the AFBF’s Golden Plow Award. It’s the highest honor the organization presents to sitting members of Congress. “Senator Fischer understands first-hand what farm families across our nation are facing,” said Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall. “She’s lived life on the farm, running a cattle ranch while serving the people of Nebraska, first in the state legislature, and then in the U.S. Senate.” He also said Fischer’s unique perspective and real-world experience have guided her in championing issues that impact rural America, including regulatory reform, trade, taxes, and a modernized farm bill. “She embodies the spirit that the Golden Plow Award represents,” he added. The Nebraska Farm Bureau nominated her for the award in honor of her work on the Senate Agriculture Committee. “She’s never wavered in her support for farm and ranch families,” said Nebraska Farm Bureau President Mark McHargue.
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No More Sugarbeet Farming in California
California’s last factory that turns sugarbeets into sugar is shutting down after 78 years in business. The LA Times said the closure means the loss of hundreds of local jobs and the likely end of sugarbeet farming inside the state’s borders. The Southern Minnesota Beet Sugar Cooperative, which owns the plant based in Brawley, California, started decommissioning the plant in July. The cooperative will focus its resources on the more profitable plant it runs in Renville, Minnesota. Sugarbeets are root vegetables that contain high levels of sucrose and are used to produce more than half of the U.S. sugar supply alongside sugar cane. The beets grow in the Imperial Valley in southern California with the help of nutrient-rich soil and the Colorado River. This is a huge loss for the region because unemployment rates are high, and agriculture is the second-largest job creator. The closure eliminates 700 jobs and a $243-million industry.
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Junior Hereford Association Members Gather in Missouri
The National Junior Hereford Association sent 84 members from 21 states to the Purina Animal Health Nutrition Center in Missouri for the 2025 Faces of Leadership Conference. Hosted in partnership with Purina, the event kicked off with a focus on exploring leadership through a personal lens, encouraging members to discover and develop their unique leadership styles while sharpening vital communication and team-building skills. “People want to follow leaders who stay humble, stay hungry, and always try to find better for those around them,” said Mike Matheny (mah-THEE-nee) of St. Louis, Missouri. Matheny, a former MLB catcher and manager, is also a leadership coach who inspires others through his faith-based approach to mentoring, team building, and character development. Conference participants enjoyed several unique learning experiences, including a hands-on leadership simulation led by the NJHA board of directors, roundtable discussions with American Hereford Association staff, and a “Bridging the Gap” college and career fair.
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Farm Auction Averages More Than $36,000 an Acre
A 110-acre farm outside Dublin, Ohio, went up for sale on July 17. Successful Farming says the land broker expected strong interest, but it was nothing compared to the results. “I figured the land might go for around $20,000 an acre,” said Brandon Wilson, vice president of the Wilson National Real Estate and Auction Group. The auction far surpassed expectations by selling for an incredible $36,988 per acre average and brought in a total of $4,068,710. “I was shocked,” Wilson said, “There was strong bidding throughout the entire auction.” The land was divided into three tracts, with tracts one and two combined at 70 acres. The two tracts sold for $41,697 an acre, totaling $2,918,790. The third tract, made up of 40 acres, sold for $28,748 per acre, bringing in $1,419,920. Wilson estimates that about 15 people actively participated in the bidding, an unusually high number for a property split into three parcels.
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