QUAD CITIES, Ill./Iowa (KWQC) – Local farmers are facing financial pressures as equipment costs soar and trade disputes drive down commodity prices.
Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi visited the area Wednesday to hear directly from producers about the challenges confronting the agriculture industry.
“So expensive […] one of these combines costs $1,000,000 today with a couple of heads at the front,” Krishnamoorthi said. “Farmers are going through a really tough time right now as we basically have a trade war that essentially means that the price of soy has tanked.”
The trade war involving the US, China, and Argentina has created additional financial strain for area producers.
“It’s hard to see how you even break even at that kind of price, and let alone make a profit […] We want farmers to make profits. But unfortunately, with this trade war, these crazy tariffs, multiple things are happening,” Krishnamoorthi said. “The price of soy is cratering. This year, unlike before, when we sold $1.4 billion worth of soy to China in 2024, we’ve sold $0 worth of soy this year.”
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