Grain Without a Buyer: Navigating Sorghum’s Export Fallout in 2025
As the 2025 harvest season unfolds across North Central Kansas, farmers are facing a perfect storm of economic and environmental pressures. From soaring input and volatile markets, it has been nothing short of challenging.
Over the last three years, grain-related income has plummeted while chemical, seed, fertilizer, equipment, and application costs have surged. The American Relief Act of December 2024 offered some support, but direct payments covered less than 1/3 of last season’s row crop losses. With inflation and interest rates rising it is tightening credit. Some farmers are downsizing, restructuring loans, and there is an increase of farm-related bankruptcies.
To compound the problem President Trump’s administration has engaged in a trade war with China – the largest export partner of the United States. The standoff between the countries has impacted the agriculture sector – with major reduction in sorghum and soybean exports.
The basis on sorghum is, frankly, ridiculous. Uncertainty in export demand—especially from China—has led elevators across Kansas to discount sorghum well below futures. This weak basis compounds the problem of high costing inputs, leaving producers with little or no margin for error.
The impact of rural communities and farmers is real. The path forward looks bleak.