Rabobank, one of the world’s largest cooperative banks, has called for a “return to fundamentals” to restore competitiveness in North American agriculture amid trade tensions, high input costs, and policy uncertainty.
Releasing its Fall Harvest Outlook 2025, Rabobank noted that the U.S., once a top soybean supplier to China, has seen exports fall sharply as China now sources nearly 90% of its soybeans from Brazil. “Trade shifts and tariffs could damage flows in both the short and long term,” said Stephen Nicholson, Global Sector Strategist at Rabobank.
Rising fertilizer prices and government interventions have further tightened farm margins. Analyst Sam Taylor said farmers face escalating costs driven by policy, while Owen Wagner warned that subsidies may distort markets and delay recovery.
Rabobank added that while sustainable practices hold promise, systemic barriers and financial strain call for balanced policies to stabilize the farm economy.
