This story first appeared in The Daily Illini on October 21, 2025.
(Photo Courtesy of Soybean Research & Information Network/Illinois Extension)
It’s been over five months since China stopped purchasing U.S. soybeans, and impacts have hit farmers in central Illinois hard. The state’s top cash crop has lost an estimated 40% of its market, and producers are now searching for new ways to make use of the excess soy.
Since assuming office in January, President Donald Trump has implemented a series of reciprocal tariffs on foreign goods from countries deemed to engage in “unfair” trade practices with the United States. These policies largely affected the U.S. trade relationship with China.
“We’re in the middle of harvest right now,” said Todd Main, director of market development at the Illinois Soybean Association. “We’re hoping that the powers … could come to an agreement, because we’re going to be in a tough spot if they don’t.”
Main’s responsibilities include developing plans to support ISA’s trade and innovation goals, as well as monitoring opportunities to increase the market share of soy.
Between January and February, China imported approximately 9.13 million metric tons of U.S. soybeans. By May, however, trade tensions rose, and China stopped purchasing the commodity entirely.
Last year, the United States shipped nearly 985 million bushels of the crop to China, accounting for 51% of the nation’s total soybean exports.
In 2024 alone, China — currently the world’s largest importer of soybean products — purchased upwards of $12 billion worth of U.S. soybeans. The country has since switched to alternative sources like Brazil and Argentina.
The crisis is particularly impactful for Illinois farmers, as Illinois is the top soybean-producing state in the nation, and soybeans are one of the region’s two main crops.
In the short term, Main explained there is not much ISA can do to combat the extreme revenue losses experienced by farmers. However, the organization is working on long-term plans to expand the uses of soy.
“Two years ago, we launched a Soy Innovation Center to support research and development of use of soybeans in new and innovative ways, and that’s designed to create products in the commercial marketplace that will stimulate demand,” Main said.
In September, ISA put out a press release announcing the winning research proposals of the SpringBoard Seed Funding Challenge, which seeks to improve sustainability and aims to expand the uses of soy.
The projects serve to develop alternatives for bioplastics, biopolymers and biofibers. Main also mentioned that researchers are trying to use soy to create a biodegradable form of PFAS — chemicals that don’t break down naturally in the environment.
One of the projects Main described was the development of a grease made from soy that would be used for farm equipment. Another proposal serves to create self-healing polymers from soybean oil.
“We’re excited to see this cutting-edge research unfold in the next year,” Main wrote in the press release. “Finding new uses for soybeans expands the market potential and will help drive demand in the future, ultimately increasing profitability for farmers.”
The Daily Illini asked Doug Gucker, educator at the University of Illinois Extension, if he had any advice for Illinois soybean producers during the ongoing harvest season.
“If (you’re) concerned about (your) financial situation, particularly with (your) operating loans, talk to your lender,” Gucker said. “Your lender doesn’t want you to fail — they want you to succeed, because that’s how they make their money.”
Agricultural lenders are financial institutions that provide farmers with specialized loans to assist with farm operations. In times of need, such loans could help farmers purchase land, equipment or livestock.
Gucker also urged farmers to explore new sources of income, like expanding to new crops. He shared the importance of producers prioritizing their mental health, adding that the University of Illinois Extension offers free mental health counseling through the Illinois Agricultural Mental Health Voucher Program.
In an interview with FOX Business, Trump shared his dissatisfaction with current tariff levels, stating they are “not sustainable.” This comes after he announced an additional 100% tariff on goods from China beginning Nov. 1.
“What our farmers want is open markets and free trade, because we’re the best farmers in the world, and we can grow just about anything here,” Main said. “What we want to do is to be able to do what we do. That’s the best outcome for our farmers, to have open markets and have a trade deal that allows us to continue to export our great soybeans.”
Anna Ceja is an undergraduate student at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and an assistant news editor for The Daily Illini.