EARLHAM, Iowa — It’s almost harvest season, but some Iowa farmers are concerned about the ongoing tariff disputes.

Farmers for Free Trade’s “Motorcade for Trade” made a stop at Summer Ory Farm in Earlham, Iowa Friday. It’s one of the 14-state stops they’re making to have conversations with local farmers.

Iowa Congressman Zach Nunn, a supporter of President Trump and his tariffs, joined as he spoke with farmers and agricultural leaders. 

American agriculture generates $176 billion in annual exports, supporting more than one million jobs. Iowa is the fourth largest agricultural exporting state in the country. 

A big concern right now is that 60 percent of soybean exports from the U.S. used to go to China. According to the American Soybean Association, China hasn’t placed an order since May. They’re instead turning to Brazil to buy. But last year, China bought nearly $13 billion worth from the U.S.

Prices have dropped below the cost of production for soybeans. But there’s concerns beyond just that crop. 

“Farmers from a corn and soybeans standpoint are concerned that we’re looking at negative margins going into harvest. They’re concerned about the ability to continue to farm,” Bob Hemesath, an Iowa farmer with Farmers for Free Trade, said. “We’re wanting answers as to where are we going to find new markets, where are we going to expand on the markets that we have now? And we need that done in a quick manner.”

Rep. Nunn spent the afternoon talking with Iowa farmers and giving his input on how he wants to help. 

“One of the reasons we hold these roundtables, particularly with farmers, is that this is one of the most important aspects of Iowa’s economy,” he said. “So here’s the things that I’ve been very clear with the Trump administration on. We’ve got to have a tariff policy plan that works. Now we’re at a $50 billion trade deficit with the entire world. That can’t happen for these folks. It can’t happen for Iowa. It hurts all of us. We want to continue to see markets open up. We also recognize that there’s competition around every corner.”

The farmers don’t want to lose their business with these countries, and say they need more urgency.

“We’re in the situation of negotiating these trade deals because the administration believes that we have been on the negative side of a lot of these agreements with other countries,” Hemesath said. “So, our goal is to continue to push to get these negotiations done.”

“Come back to the negotiating table. Let’s work together candidly. Our countries are better when we have a common goal here than when we’re constantly going back to the tariff war. But if they’re not going to do it, then we’re going to work very hard to make sure our farmers have equity around the globe and that they have a market right here in America,” Nunn said. 

The second largest buyer of soybeans that come from the U.S. is the European Union. But they can only buy about one fifth the amount that China did.