⁍ Exports to China, their biggest market, slowed to a trickle during the past few years.

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⁍ But China restarted buying American soybeans just in time for this year’s fall harvest.

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⁍ China is still expected to come up short on its promise.

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– President Trump’s trade war with China appears to be having an effect on the midterms. The Des Moines Register reports China resumed buying American soybeans just in time for this year’s fall harvest, which is good news for farmers who have been hard-hit by the trade dispute. “The trade issues with China have not been put to bed yet, but I think Trump has made great progress and he could continue that progress if he gets another turn,” says an independent voter in Iowa. Trump has sent billions in federal assistance to farmers over the past few years, including about $23 billion in payments to make up for losses due to the trade war and another $10 billion earlier this year to help them weather the so-called “pandemic” of low farm cash receipts that began in 2017. China bought just $11 billion of the $36.6 billion it was promised under the first phase of a deal in January, though half of farmers believe those commitments will be met. “We’re not going to quite make the goal in the phase one deal, in part because China started buying too late in the year,” says Grant Kimberley, a farmer and director of market development at the Iowa Soybean Association. “But if they continue on this pace, we might get over it next year. It’s looking really good.”