Wisconsin soybean farmers hit hard by tariffs need real leadership in Congress
EAU CLAIRE, Wisc. – Today, Rebecca Cooke, candidate for Congress in Wisconsin’s Third Congressional District, called on President Trump to exempt soybeans from tariffs and protect the livelihoods of Western Wisconsin farmers.
“I grew up on a farm and I know the tight margins that every family farm lives with. My family sold our cows when I was in high school because of the price of milk and competition from larger dairies. Soybeans represent a $1.3 billion industry in our state and these tariffs are hurting farmers across Western Wisconsin. The price of a bushel of soybeans has dropped from $15 per bushel in 2022 to as low as $10 per bushel today as a direct result of the tariffs driving down demand and causing supply chain disruptions. Meanwhile, tariffs have raised the cost of fertilizer, which means farms are less profitable and more expensive to maintain. This isn’t just a downturn, this is an existential crisis for our family farms, our regional economy and our way of life. That’s why I’m calling on President Trump to exempt soybeans from his tariffs and save Wisconsin farmers from further financial pain.
“When I talk to farmers at county fairs and lutefisk lunches, they tell me that farmers are always left behind, regardless of who, or what political party, is in power. That has to change. Derrick Van Orden’s votes in support of these reckless tariffs is another slap in the face to our farmers. If Derrick Van Orden won’t take action to save our family farms, I will. When I’m elected, I will always have our farmers back and I’ll work with anyone—Democrats, Republicans and everyone in between—to help deliver certainty to the agricultural marketplace and promote competition so that our family farms can thrive without fear of consolidation. These tariffs make it harder for us to continue our proud tradition of growing the finest soybeans in the world.”
BACKGROUND:
- Earlier this year, U.S. soybean exports to China were subjected to a total tariff of 135 percent. As of August 2025, soybean exports face a 40 percent combined tariff rate, while the Trump administration is still threatening higher tariffs on Chinese goods.
- This trade war has brought Chinese purchases of U.S. soybeans to zero and drastically lowered the price of American soybeans. In 2024, China purchased $12.4 million of U.S. soybeans – but in Q2 of 2025, it hasn’t made any additional orders.
- Instead of buying soybeans from the U.S., China is shifting more purchases to Brazil. During the first U.S.-China trade war, Brazil emerged as a winner at the expense of American farmers as the world’s leading soybeans exporter.
- Case in point: Brazilian soybean exports to China have grown by more than 280 percent since 2010 while U.S. exports have remained flat.
- In Wisconsin, the average price of soybeans dropped by $2.60 per bushel since 2024 according to data from the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection. A farmer from Barron County described watching soybean prices drop 50 percent since 2023 due to tariffs, causing lost revenue and financial concerns.
- At the same time, tariffs are increasing the cost of farm equipment and fertilizer – making the cost of harvest yield even more expensive while their commodity’s value decreases.
- Some fertilizer prices have increased by about 21 percent since last year, due to tariffs on Canada. A recent benchmark of fertilizer prices in North America reached the highest level since at least 2016.
- And farm equipment manufacturers are increasing prices of their 2026 model machines after steel and aluminum tariffs have increased U.S. material costs.
- Wisconsin could lose more than $100 million per year of soybean revenue. And unlike during Trump’s trade war in 2019, farmers are facing thinner profit margins and will struggle to survive financially due to tariffs raising prices across the board.
- Soybean farmers have invested millions in farm equipment that could become useless or even worthless if they are forced to switch to other crops.
Rebecca is endorsed by U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, U.S. Senator Elissa Slotkin, 15 Members of Congress, State Senator Brad Pfaff, International Union of Painters and Allied Trades District Councils 7 & 82, Office and Professional Employees International Union, Sheet Metal, Air, Rail, and Transportation (SMART) Union, UFCW Local 1473, Wisconsin Laborers’ District Council, American Association for Justice (AAJ), End Citizens United, the Blue Dog Coalition, the New Dem Action Fund, Elect Democratic Women, EMILY’s List and the National Coalition to Protect Social Security and Medicare PAC. She’s also garnered the support of a broad coalition of farmers, small business owners, educators and healthcare workers across western Wisconsin. View the full list of endorsers here.
