US farm participants face uncertainty with tariffs

As usual in April, farmers are preparing to plant their soybean and corn crops. Faced with a potential tit-for-tat trade war between the US and China, the only sure thing for farmers is uncertainty. Soybean is Iowa's second main crop behind corn. China was the United States' largest buyer of soybeans last year: $12.3 billion, according to the Department of Agriculture. If China's threat of a 25% tariff on soybeans is implemented in retaliation for President Trump's proposed tariffs on Chinese goods, it would be a harsh blow for farmers and the state's economy.