Uncategorized

“China hasn’t purchased a single bushel of this year’s harvest”

Columbus, Ohio — Ohio farmers are warning that the reckless tariffs Jon Husted supports are threatening to devastate their livelihoods and put the state’s multibillion-dollar soybean industry at risk.

New front-page reporting from the Cleveland Plain Dealer details how “farmers across the state [are] anxiously wondering when things might change” as the tariffs backed by Husted drive away Chinese buyers and create a mounting crisis across rural Ohio.

Last week, during an interview with Spectrum News Columbus, Husted deflected blame for the consequences of the tariffs and refused to take responsibility for failing Ohio farmers. 

See for yourself:

Cleveland Plain Dealer: Ohio Soybean Farmers are Being Left Out to Dry

• In a typical year, China buys 25% to 30% of the U.S. soybean crop, but this is not a typical year.

• Embroiled in a trade war with the United States, China hasn’t purchased a single bushel of this year’s harvest, according to Kirk Merritt, executive director of the Ohio Soybean Association, and that has farmers across the state anxiously wondering when things might change.

• Ohio ranks from fifth to seventh in soybean production among states, depending on the year, Merritt said, with the largest concentration of farmers in the northwest quadrant of the state.

• In most years, China would have already pre-booked billions of dollars in soybean orders from the United States, he said.

• “I think it’s an effort on their part to not buy our beans as part of the negotiation process,” Merritt said. “I think they’ve probably stated that.”

• What really galls farmers is that Argentina temporarily waived certain taxes on its soybean exports, making them more attractive to Chinese buyers, just before President Donald Trump decided the U.S. government would provide Argentina with a $20 billion financial aid package.

• “It’s hard for Ohio soybean farmers to swallow that just a day after Argentina maneuvered to supplant our market share in China, the Trump Administration announced it will send taxpayer money to Argentina to prop up its failing economy,” Ohio Soybean Association President Rusty Goebel said recently in a written statement.

• “The most active farmers I think are talking with their elected officials about improving export demand in whatever way they can,” Richer said.

• Merritt said that if China does not start buying U.S. soybeans soon, it could place economic stress on farmers, necessitating financial support from the federal government.

• “We continue to speak out and advocate for a trade deal that will benefit farmers,” Merritt said, “but the urgency is increasing every day.”

WATCH: Sen. Husted Dodges Responsibility for Tariffs Crushing Ohio Soybean Farmers 

###

Columbus, OH- After Republicans in Washington and Columbus raised the cost of living for all Ohioans, Trump’s tariffs are further hurting Ohio’s soybean farmers as harvest season is underway. As Republicans continue raising costs and undercutting growth for Ohio farmers, Democrats are standing with them.

See for yourself: 

NewsNation: Farmer blasts Trump’s plan to dole out tariff revenue: ‘Comical’

• Ohio farmer Chris Gibbs believes the state of play for America’s agriculturalists has been negatively affected by President Donald Trump’s tariffs. Gibbs said farmers are taking major losses on top of U.S. commodities — like corn, soybeans and wheat — and it is putting them in a “hell of a mess.”

• “Farmers don’t have the working capital they need, or the cash flow they need to continue to pay the high expenses that we’re experiencing,” Gibbs said.

• Last week, Trump announced some tariff revenue would go to U.S. farmers, but no details about the amount of aid or how it would be dispersed have been made clear. Gibbs called Trump’s concept “the most ridiculous thing,” as he and other farmers are already bearing the brunt of tariffs daily and federal checks would only serve to help them break even — if that. “

• Now, the president of the United States is going to take my money and give it back to me and call it a bailout,” he said. “That’s that’s just comical.”

• Gibbs said he believes Trump is “petrified of rural America,” and that the nation’s growers need to stand up in protest of the administration’s ongoing trade troubles.

###

Columbus, Ohio-  Today is the last day Ohioans can register to vote in the 2025 general election. This year, there are over 6000 local races on the ballot that will determine the future of communities across the state. Ohio Dems are encouraging all eligible voters to register and make their voices heard in these critical elections.

Ohioans can register online at https://www.ohiosos.gov/elections/voters/register/, by delivering a paper form to your county’s board elections, or by sending your application through the mail. It must still be postmarked by the deadline to count for this November’s election. Today is also the deadline to update your address for this upcoming election if you’ve moved since the last election.

###

Columbus, Ohio – In case you missed it, Republican House Speaker Matt Huffman once again led the charge in his party’s quest to lie to Ohioans as much as possible. Huffman would rather pretend he cares about what Ohioans think than admit his party is running out the clock to force extreme, unconstitutional maps on Ohio voters.

Ohioans from all walks of life traveled to Columbus to make their voices heard, but the Republican majority held sham hearings that were clearly only to fulfill a legal requirement. House and Senate Democrats stepped up to introduce a fair, constitutional map, but Republicans refused to seriously consider it while stalling on their own maps. 

“If Huffman thinks Ohioans will believe his lies while his extreme, gerrymandered maps are lying in wait, we have a bridge over the Ohio River to sell him,” said Ohio Democratic Party spokeswoman Katie Seewer. “Ultimately, Republicans are hell bent running out the clock so they can choose their own voters instead of letting voters choose their politicians.”

###

Husted raked in $70,000 from DC lobbyists as 500,000 Ohioans face spiking health care costs

Columbus, Ohio –  After voting to shut down the government rather than protect affordable health care for 500,000 Ohioans, Jon Husted raked in over $70,000 at a fundraiser with “longtime GOP advisers,” DC lobbyists and wealthy donors, according to reports. 

Read more from WSJ reporter Brian Schwartz.

Here’s a reminder of Husted’s continued attacks on Ohioan’s health care:

• First, Husted voted for devastating Medicaid cuts to fund the largest billionaire tax break in history. 

• Then, he lied about it. Last week, Husted was caught saying no one will lose Medicaid coverage in Ohio – despite expert analysis that will cause 490,000 Ohioans to lose health care coverage and put eleven rural hospitals in Ohio at risk of closure. 

• Now, he’s shut down the government rather than working to permanently extend tax credits that millions of Americans rely on to afford their health insurance — which will cause premiums to increase by up to 93% and make health care more expensive for 500,000 Ohioans. 

###