Heartland Devastation: 300% Chinese Tariffs Threaten $50B Farm Economy, Risk 45,000 Bankruptcies

USDA economists project agricultural losses exceeding the 1980s farm crisis if China implements retaliatory measures:

Crop-Specific Catastrophes:

1. Soybean Sector Collapse

   • 85% export decline (China buys 60% of US crop)

   • Price crash to $8/bushel(from$13.50)

   • 32,000 Midwest farms at risk

2. Pork Industry Bloodbath

   • 72% of $2.5B Chinese market lost

   • Smithfield Foods warning of 40 plant closures

   • 13,000 hog farmers facing ruin

Political Timebomb:

• Iowa GOP delegation splits on tariff support

• Farm Bureau launching $15M ad campaign

• China stockpiling Brazilian soy as hedge

Historical Parallels: