Craig Griffune

Soybeans were down, too. Basically, neither crop would net a profit if they sold their harvest on that day. But they do have a way to wait out the market's volatility, at least for a little while.

When the price gets too low, they have these big storage bins. They're like two stories high, and they store thousands of bushels of corn or soybeans or whatever, with some air blowing in to keep the crops fresh and dry.

When the price gets too low, they have these big storage bins. They're like two stories high, and they store thousands of bushels of corn or soybeans or whatever, with some air blowing in to keep the crops fresh and dry.

When the price gets too low, they have these big storage bins. They're like two stories high, and they store thousands of bushels of corn or soybeans or whatever, with some air blowing in to keep the crops fresh and dry.

And I'm Jeff Guo. The U.S. exports billions of dollars worth of agricultural products every year. We're one of the world's largest ag exporters. But now our exports are caught up in a trade war with China and they don't want to buy lots of our things, including our soybeans and pork and corn.

And I'm Jeff Guo. The U.S. exports billions of dollars worth of agricultural products every year. We're one of the world's largest ag exporters. But now our exports are caught up in a trade war with China and they don't want to buy lots of our things, including our soybeans and pork and corn.

And I'm Jeff Guo. The U.S. exports billions of dollars worth of agricultural products every year. We're one of the world's largest ag exporters. But now our exports are caught up in a trade war with China and they don't want to buy lots of our things, including our soybeans and pork and corn.

This is Rob Johanson. He's the former chief economist for the Department of Agriculture, a.k.a. the USDA. He says there are a lot of innovations coming out in the lead up to the 80s that are helping farmers produce more food on the same amount of land.

This is Rob Johanson. He's the former chief economist for the Department of Agriculture, a.k.a. the USDA. He says there are a lot of innovations coming out in the lead up to the 80s that are helping farmers produce more food on the same amount of land.

This is Rob Johanson. He's the former chief economist for the Department of Agriculture, a.k.a. the USDA. He says there are a lot of innovations coming out in the lead up to the 80s that are helping farmers produce more food on the same amount of land.

Yeah. Meanwhile, the U.S. was in fact busy courting a quite large trade partner, China. The two countries had stopped trading with each other during the Cold War. And in 1979, the U.S. and China officially opened their borders to each other again.

Yeah. Meanwhile, the U.S. was in fact busy courting a quite large trade partner, China. The two countries had stopped trading with each other during the Cold War. And in 1979, the U.S. and China officially opened their borders to each other again.

Yeah. Meanwhile, the U.S. was in fact busy courting a quite large trade partner, China. The two countries had stopped trading with each other during the Cold War. And in 1979, the U.S. and China officially opened their borders to each other again.

Loved it. This is what's great about trade. Each country doing what it's good at. And we are apparently really, really good at growing soybeans. And by the early 2000s, China starts buying a lot of our extra soybeans.

Loved it. This is what's great about trade. Each country doing what it's good at. And we are apparently really, really good at growing soybeans. And by the early 2000s, China starts buying a lot of our extra soybeans.

Loved it. This is what's great about trade. Each country doing what it's good at. And we are apparently really, really good at growing soybeans. And by the early 2000s, China starts buying a lot of our extra soybeans.

And by 2015, the relationship hits a major milestone. For the first time ever, China becomes the U.S. 's biggest trade partner. Canada and Mexico, they fall to second and third place.

And by 2015, the relationship hits a major milestone. For the first time ever, China becomes the U.S. 's biggest trade partner. Canada and Mexico, they fall to second and third place.

And by 2015, the relationship hits a major milestone. For the first time ever, China becomes the U.S. 's biggest trade partner. Canada and Mexico, they fall to second and third place.

So at the start of 2018, during President Trump's first administration, he opts not to arbitrate these disputes the normal way by going to the World Trade Organization. Instead, Trump uses his favorite tool, tariffs. He puts tariffs on a bunch of Chinese products, including flat screen TVs, medical devices and batteries. The idea is that the tariffs will make these Chinese products more expensive.