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Farmer fears China market will never be the same

A South Dakota farmer who was instrumental in building the Chinese market doubts China will ever be the customer it once was. 

Bob Metz is a past president of the American Soybean Association and long-time board member of the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC).  He tells Brownfield he’s been on at least a dozen trade missions to China the last 15 years.

“Our message (has been) we are a safe, reliable source of food for you. And that’s all changed now. You can’t be a reliable customer when you’re throwing tariffs on the things they’re selling us.”

Metz, who farms in the northeast corner of South Dakota, says he fears the U.S. will become a last resort for Chinese buyers.

And he disputes the notion that America had become too reliant on one market.

“How do you say that your largest customer you want to become less dependent upon? They were a good trading partner. (China) was pretty much buying everything they could get from the U.S. That is not a bad trading partner.”

Metz points out China has a growing middle class and a diet that meshes well with U.S. ag production.

He says no other country can compare.

Brownfield spoke to Metz at Minnesota Farmfest in southwest Minnesota Wednesday.