From Breakingviews - Breakingviews - COMMENTARY: US farmers are past the point of political return ↧ ↧ Breakingviews - COMMENTARY: US farmers are past the point of politi... The heartland risks a permanent loss of ​export markets as China ​slashes soybean and grain purchases. ⁠Price increases of 50% ​for diesel and fertilizer add ​to the pain. A midterm voter rebuke of republicans is unlikely ​to reverse agriculture’s economic ​slide.