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Farmers concerned about trade as harvest approaches

Many farmers say they are concerned about trade tensions with China as the Trump administration announces even more tariffs.

Brad Reynolds with Ohio Corn and Wheat says it’s critical that farmers have a market for their crops.

“We just hope that this gets rectified fast because we have crops that are getting ready  to be harvested and we need outlooks overseas for those grains,” he says.

Audio: Brad Reynolds, Director of Communications with Ohio Corn and Wheat 

The Trump administration plans to impose another $16 billion dollars in tariffs on Chinese goods in a few weeks.

And southwestern Indiana farmer Joe Steinkamp says although he appreciates the administration’s proposed relief package, it’s not enough.

“We’d rather go back to trading with the Chinese freely and the rest of the world,” he says. “Let’s move forward with that and then at the same time let’s patch ourselves up with a little bit of bailing wire and duct tape and see if we can get through the rest of 2018 and 2019 and get it settled.”

Audio: Joe Steinkamp, Indiana farmer 

Many farmers say they are concerned the trade war will continue to spiral as China has promised to retaliate against the proposed tariffs.