People shop at a Walmart store in Rosemead, California, the United States, on May 15, 2025. (Photo by Qiu Chen/Xinhua)

　　FLICKER OF RELIEF

　　A temporary 90-day suspension of tariffs between the United States and China in May brought a flicker of relief. But Randy, who spent 34 years navigating global trade standards at leading tractor maker John Deere, sees a more complicated picture.

　　“When tariffs were imposed the first time, it cost John Deere. It cost the American farmer,“ he told Xinhua in a recent interview. “Those soybean markets we lost, someone else filled.“

　　Scott felt the impact firsthand. “By spring, we've already spent hundreds of thousands on seed, fertilizer and chemicals,“ he said. “No policy from Washington is going to stop us short-term. But next year? We'll have to rethink everything.“

　　Noting that a single breakdown can cost tens of thousands of dollars, Scott said: “With tight margins, even a 10-percent drop in prices can shake everything (up) -- land payments, equipment loans and family income.“

　　Today, most of their corn heads to nearby ethanol plants; some goes to livestock feed; the rest is exported. However, tariffs are rebalancing that mix, Scott said. China was once the largest buyer, but now “I can't tell you the amount. We're constantly renegotiating,“ he added.

　　Technology shapes every aspect of their operation. The Renzes manage a digital command center and use apps to track weather, monitor soil, mix cattle feed and hedge commodity prices. “We're not just farmers anymore. We're managers, marketers, engineers,“ said Scott.