By Nathan Reineck/Broadcast version by Mary Schuermann Kuhlman
Reporting for the Kent State-Ohio News Connection Collaboration

Nearly a year after the start of a dramatic trade war between the U.S. and China, high tariffs are preventing Ohio farmers from selling many of their soybean crops, costing farmers their largest export to China.

“Just in our industry, that one commodity has cost farmers millions of dollars on lost income and revenue,” says Jack Irvin, a federal lobbyist with the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation.

The trade war started last March with President Donald Trump’s introduction of steel tariffs, which he enacted with the intent of boosting the U.S. steel industry.

Chinese trade officials responded with a 25 percent tariff of their own on U.S. soybeans.

The tariff came as a shock to many farmers across the nation after 25 years of China’s increased purchasing of soybeans. Every third row of soybeans was going there, says Ben Klick, an Ohio farmer and member of the Ohio Corn and Wheat Growers Association.

China has consistently relied on large amounts of U.S. soybeans to supply its pork economy. Soybeans are commonly used in feed for pigs throughout the country.

Klick says he was lucky to get his soybeans to market before the tariffs were enacted. He says he still has other products he can sell, but unfortunately, some other farmers didn’t share in his luck.

Those who didn’t get their yields out in time have kept most of their soybeans in storage, waiting for the tariffs to be dropped.

Now, China has moved to buying soybeans from Argentina and Brazil, countries with growing agricultural sectors. Klick says the vast amount of soybeans imported to China from these two countries could boost them into top spots.

Klick adds he is worried because Argentina and Brazil can already plant crops more often than the U.S. and, with a few infrastructural improvements, they could take most of the market share.

“I know this trade war will end eventually, but, when it does, the issue that I see is will we, as farmers, be able to regain our access to China’s soybean import market,” Klick says.

This would prove a drastic setback, as Ohio farmers would lose a third of their buyers if they can’t win Chinese buyers back.

As farmers are getting ready to plant the next crop of soybeans, they don’t know if they can expect any trade with China, since the two countries have reached no trade deal.

Data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture show soybean exports are down more than 90 percent under the trade dispute and U.S. farmers lost nearly $8 billion in the past year.

Steel production in the U.S. rose about 5 percent last year after tariffs on foreign steel were increased 25 percent.

While the tariffs have helped the U.S. steel industry grow, their impact reaches beyond just farmers. Irvin points out agriculture creates $120 billion in economic activity and 12 percent of jobs are related to the industry.

The average U.S. citizen will see price increases on all kinds of products until a deal is reached.

“Some people can come out ahead if you’re protected, but it spills over in lots of other ways to lots of other firms and lots of other people,” says C. Lockwood Reynolds, an economics professor at Kent State.

If a trade deal isn’t resolved between leaders by early March, farmers will likely see even higher tariffs introduced.

“They both [U.S. and China] want what they want, and they look out for their people and they’re not going to give to each other,” Klick says.

Chinese buyers want U.S. soybeans, Klick notes, but won’t buy them until the tariffs are removed. Klick says he believes in the president and that’s why he voted for him, but says it’s unfortunate to be on the losing end of the deal.

And Klick notes there is only a matter of time before the president shifts his focus back to re-election in 2020 and trade is not at the top of his priorities anymore.

“I know there’s a greater good behind what we call this ‘market strategy’ but if I had to sit down with some Chinese grain buyers right now, I would ensure that if things get back to what I would consider normal that we would be ready with open arms to work side by side with them and get some great quality soybeans back into their country,” he says. “A very wise man once told my grandfather one time ‘You don’t fight with another country over food, they don’t forget stuff like that.’”

The Agriculture Department approved about $12 billion to assist farmers impacted by tariffs.

This collaboration is produced in association with Media in the Public Interest and funded in part by The George Gund Foundation.



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Mississippi is embracing the future of artificial intelligence with Gov. Tate Reeves' executive order establishing a framework for its responsible use across state agencies.

The order tasks the Department of Information Technology Services with inventorying AI technologies and working with stakeholders to develop ethical policies. While seen as a step forward, it raises questions about implementation and oversight.

Kollin Napier, director of the Mississippi Artificial Intelligence Network, said his organization is helping to boost the state's role in AI education and innovation.

"We're already leading on that forefront and with involvement from the governor, with involvement from ITS and bringing even more people into the fold," Napier explained. "We're just continuing that momentum and even amplifying it on a greater scale."

Mississippi joins other states in adopting AI policies following previous failed legislative efforts, including Senate Bill 2062, which aimed to create a task force to explore AI's role in government. Attempts to regulate AI in political advertising also stalled last year, raising concerns about the pace of progress.

Napier emphasizes AI is hardly a new concept but it is now taking center stage and he encourages viewing it as an opportunity for job creation and economic growth, rather than a threat to employment.

"I like to say AI, in and of itself, will not displace you, but the people who are taking the time to learn and integrate that into their day-to-day lives -- their professional lives -- can and will take your job," Napier emphasized. "Because as we're seeing, that's where the future going."

Reeves' executive order has ignited discussions about balancing innovation with regulation, as advocates express hope the initiative will drive economic growth while mitigating potential risks.



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Gov. Brian Kemp delivered his 2025 State of the State address Thursday, emphasizing tax cuts and tort reform as key priorities for Georgia.

Kemp also highlighted the state's resilience following Hurricane Helene and praised its economic strength. He is convinced one of the best ways to continue growing Georgia's economy is by "putting more money in the pockets of Georgians." He announced plans to reduce the state income tax rate by 20 basis points, bringing it down to 5.19%.

"Because at the end of the day, that's your money, not the government's," Kemp stated. "And here in Georgia, we believe you should keep more of it."

The governor said his proposed tax cut would save residents about $7.5 billion over the next decade. During the last legislative session, the state income tax rate was already reduced to 5.39%, a total decrease of 36 basis points since 2022.

Another major priority outlined by Kemp is tort reform, which are changes to the judicial system to discourage what some see as "frivolous" lawsuits or large settlements. He noted while Georgia has maintained its title as the "best state to do business," many industries struggle with high business insurance premiums and the cost of legal actions. Kemp argued the challenges hinder their ability to operate, hire employees and expand. He mentioned the effects on health care around the state.

"We heard firsthand the challenges our legal environment poses to critical services, our health care workforce and the ability for hospitals and clinics to operate," Kemp outlined.

Kemp also addressed expanding funding for law enforcement units to prosecute gangs and human traffickers, and to increase access to health care. And he promoted state programs like Georgia Access and Georgia Pathways as alternatives to traditional Medicaid expansion, saying they provide better health coverage for more than 200,000 Georgians.


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Congressional Republicans are taking a hard look at Medicaid as they pursue spending cuts and a new report shows how the public health program is preventing care access from further eroding in rural North Dakota and elsewhere.

A House GOP proposal floats a nearly $2.5 trillion Medicaid reduction. Findings from Georgetown University's Center for Children and Families showed people in rural areas are more likely than metro populations to receive health coverage through Medicaid.

Katy Kozhimannil, professor of health and policy management at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health, said the program is a key contributor to pregnancy care in these settings.

"Offering obstetric care is a financial challenge for hospitals as revenues may not cover the costs of providing that care," Kozhimannil pointed out. "Medicaid covers nearly half of all births nationally and plays a substantially larger role in paying for births in rural areas."

The report said in 2022, 52% of rural hospitals no longer had maternity wards, compared with 36% of urban hospitals. There is concern the gap would widen with Medicaid cuts and North Dakota almost leads the nation for lack of rural OB/GYN services. Some House Republicans insist the programs need reform to avoid a fiscal collapse. But skeptics said drastic changes are a way to offset a planned extension of federal tax cuts.

The report also pointed out residents in rural areas have worse health outcomes.

Joan Alker, executive director of the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families, said it demonstrates why Medicaid is so important, adding it serves as a lifeline to a range of populations living in these communities.

"It is serving children. It is serving seniors in nursing homes, people with disabilities," Alker outlined.

Alker noted Medicaid helps recipients get ahead of health challenges through preventive care, as
opposed to letting conditions worsen.

"People wind up sicker and then they're in the emergency room and children can't get their asthma inhalers and they miss school," Alker explained.