[ST. PAUL, MN] – Governor Tim Walz today visited a grain and cattle farm in Faribault to highlight the impacts of the Trump Administration’s trade policy on Minnesota farmers. Tariffs have severely reduced the market for soybean farmers to sell their goods abroad, resulting in billions in lost sales and financial strain on rural communities. Photos from the event can be found here.

“President Trump’s trade war has taken a wrecking ball to the farm economy, decimating family farms as crop prices crash, operating costs soar, and farmers are locked out of global markets,” said Governor Walz. “This is a man-made crisis, caused single-handedly by President Trump. Minnesota will continue to stand up for those who feed and fuel the world.”

Soybeans are Minnesota’s largest agricultural export with approximately two out of every three rows of soybeans sold abroad. During the 2025 harvest season, farmers have faced mounting challenges from federal trade policy and retaliatory tariffs, leading to the loss of key export markets, lower commodity prices, and financial strain.

China, once the largest purchaser of U.S. soybeans has rescinded all purchase orders in 2025, instead expanding trade with South America. With this top world market closed off, many Minnesota farmers are forced to store crops indefinitely, sell at distressed prices, or absorb added costs.

Governor Walz declared September 29 – October 5, 2025, as Soybean Week in Minnesota, highlighting the critical role of soybean farmers and the significant hurdles faced due to federal trade policies.