The trade dispute between the U.S. and China has brought with it a range of issues, not least the impact on U.S. farmers.

Already struggling with low commodity prices, the trade dispute has added further pressure on the U.S. agricultural industry.

Against that backdrop, you would expect the atmosphere at the Farm Progress Show in Decatur, in the U.S. state of Illinois, to be low-key… not so. 

The largest outdoor farm event in the U.S. was packed with the latest combines, tractors and other heavy-duty farming equipment.
Case IH is an agricultural equipment company headquartered in neighboring Wisconsin, but with manufacturing facilities across the globe. 

With threats of more tariffs from both sides, the company management said it's simply time to end the trade dispute, once and for all. "We need to get it cleared up. For our entire economy, it needs to be addressed sooner rather than later. We are optimistic that we will get something resolved and the sooner the better," said Scott Harris, a vice president at the company.

Adding to farmers woes across North America was a wet planting season, with many farms struggling to get the crop in the ground on time.

Despite those pressures, many of the exhibitors remain optimistic about the year ahead. Daniel Valen is the director of product marketing at New Holland North America. "We are a global company. And we have a global footprint, and the different things that are going on with politics make it more challenging. I think it makes it more challenging for everybody, but I also look at it that there are opportunities out there that everyone can take advantage of."

That is a view backed up by Harris. "It is a fantastic time to be part of this industry, with the technology that is being integrated into these machines. These are integrated solutions that allow producers to do more in the same acres that get planted every year."

Although U.S. farming remains under a cloud, agricultural manufacturers and farmers remain hopeful of an upturn.