MAGNOLIA, Kentucky
Kentucky farming operation says temporary soybean purchase commitments provide short-term support but do not resolve tariff disparities and long-term market uncertainty
Ragland Farms, a family-owned agricultural operation producing soybeans, corn, and winter wheat, today released a public policy statement calling for more stable and predictable agricultural trade between the United States and China.
Caleb Ragland, a ninth-generation farmer based in Magnolia, said recent Chinese commitments to purchase American agricultural products have provided needed short-term demand. However, he cautioned that negotiated purchase targets do not fully address the tariff disparities, pricing pressures, and loss of market share affecting U.S. soybean producers.
According to U.S. Department of Agriculture reporting, China committed under a late-2025 agricultural purchase arrangement to acquire 12 million metric tons of American soybeans, followed by at least 25 million metric tons annually from 2026 through 2028. China subsequently met the initial purchase target.
Ragland said the commitments are important for American producers but remain dependent on government negotiations and do not restore the broader commercial conditions that existed before U.S.-China trade tensions intensified in 2018.
“Temporary purchase agreements can provide meaningful support, but farmers also need reliable access to markets that is not dependent on repeated political negotiations,” Ragland said. “Planting, financing, equipment, and land-management decisions often have to be made months or years in advance.”
Market Conditions Affecting American Soybean Producers
Ragland Farms identified several continuing challenges affecting the competitiveness of American soybeans in the Chinese market.
Declining U.S. Market Share
Before trade tensions intensified, the United States supplied a significantly larger percentage of China’s imported soybeans. Public trade data indicates that the American share declined substantially by 2024 as Brazil expanded production capacity and strengthened its commercial relationships with Chinese purchasers.
Ragland said rebuilding market share will require more than temporary purchasing targets because importers also consider price, availability, shipping costs, tariffs, and the reliability of long-term supply relationships.
Tariff Disparities
U.S. Department of Agriculture reporting published in March 2026 indicated that American soybeans were subject to a 13% Chinese import tariff, compared with approximately 3% for Brazilian soybeans.
Ragland said the difference places American producers at a commercial disadvantage, particularly when Chinese processors can purchase lower-priced soybeans from South American suppliers.
Seasonal Pricing Pressure
Brazilian soybeans are often competitively priced during important purchasing periods. This can encourage private Chinese processors to favor Brazilian supplies even when government-directed commitments support additional purchases from the United States.
Ragland said predictable tariff and market-access policies would allow American farmers to compete more effectively on price, quality, reliability, and long-term supply capacity.
Agricultural Trade and National Security
The statement also addresses the growing policy debate surrounding foreign ownership of American agricultural land.
In 2023, Arkansas ordered a Chinese-controlled subsidiary of Syngenta Seeds to divest agricultural property in the state. In July 2026, North Carolina enacted the Farmland and Military Protection Act, with certain provisions scheduled to take effect in April 2027.
Ragland said government review of foreign acquisitions near military installations and other sensitive locations can be appropriate. However, he encouraged policymakers to distinguish between legitimate national security concerns and ordinary agricultural commerce.
“Protecting strategically sensitive property and maintaining agricultural trade are separate policy issues,” Ragland said. “The shipment of soybeans through established commercial channels should not be treated in the same way as the acquisition of land near critical infrastructure.”
Call for Predictable Agricultural Trade Policy
Ragland Farms is calling on policymakers in Washington and Beijing to pursue a more stable agricultural trading framework that reduces tariff disparities and limits the use of farm products as leverage during broader political disputes.
The company said predictable trade conditions would help family farms make informed decisions regarding planting, financing, staffing, equipment purchases, land management, and long-term investment.
In an April 2025 public appeal, Ragland warned that prolonged trade uncertainty could threaten the survival of multigenerational American farms.
“Trade policy may be written in government offices, but its consequences are felt on farms,” Ragland said in the earlier statement. “All our blood, sweat, and toil could vanish with the stroke of a pen.”
Ragland said agricultural trade does not require the United States and China to resolve every political disagreement. Instead, both countries can recognize the economic value of maintaining reliable commercial relationships for essential agricultural products.
“Farmers are prepared to compete in global markets,” Ragland said. “What they need is a stable framework that allows commercial decisions to be based on supply, quality, price, and long-term demand.”
About Ragland Farms
Ragland Farms is a multigenerational family farming operation based in Magnolia, Kentucky. Led by ninth-generation farmer Caleb Ragland, the farm produces soybeans, corn, and winter wheat. Ragland Farms supports agricultural policies that promote predictable market access, economically sustainable farming operations, and the long-term viability of American family farms.
Media Contact:
For media inquiries about this release, submit an inquiry.
https://send.heraldengine.com/contact/82955/c7477c5a2a64ace269cb279fd09822d0067fd027a2c488baa1020c9f38959896
Last modified: July 28, 2026
