With one in four rows of soybeans planted in Iowa exported to China, it is almost impossible to overstate the importance of the Chinese economy and its consumers have for US agricultural producers and the farm sector in general. However, there is a lack of understanding of China’s agricultural industry and, in particular, the life and work of a typical Chinese agricultural producer. Having been born and raised in a rural Chinese county, I want to share some of my observations regarding the commonalities and differences between Chinese and US agriculture.

Due to historical and political reasons, you could easily find many sharp contrasts for the agricultural industries in the United States and China, the four major differences are: First, natural conditions for agriculture are better in the United States. Second, there are key differences in the paramount objectives of agricultural policies in the United States and China. Third, the support system for Chinese agricultural producers is not nearly as well-structured or effective as the American system. Fourth, the agricultural sector is far more volatile in China than it is in the United States.