Now to the heart of farm country in the United States, American farmers and equipment manufacturers are in Boone, Iowa for the Farm Progress show. The event is in its 65th year, but this time, it's taking place amid trade and tariff tensions. CGTN's Dan Williams reports.

Getting a grip on the latest in farming technology, farmers from across the U.S. were able to test out agricultural products at the Farm Progress show. the country's largest outdoor farm event. It is billed as a celebration of agriculture. But many farmers could be forgiven for feeling more somber this year. After the Trump administration imposed tariffs on various countries in recent months, many of those countries responded by imposing tariffs of their own, with farming a key target. Despite the gloom, the message from the U.S Secretary of Agriculture, Sonny Perdue, remained upbeat.

SONNY PERDUE US AGRICULTURE SECRETARY "Just like everyone's said, we want trade, not aid. If we are able to resolve all these trade disputes right away prior to harvest, then that's the best thing that can happen."

But with crop prices falling, some below the cost of production, many farmers remain unconvinced.

TIM BARDOLE IOWA FARMER "My son just started farming with us a year ago, and we did some expanding to make room for him. An operation like ours is going to be one of the first that's going to be a casualty if this continues on very long."

DAN WILLIAMS BOONE, IOWA "It's not just crop prices that's causing concern amongst farmers here. The tariffs on steel and aluminum imports into the U.S. has added a further input cost for manufacturers of agricultural equipment. And that is putting yet more pressure on the farming industry as a whole."

LAVERNE ARNDT IOWA FARMER "I feel sorry for a lot of the people on this ground here. They probably thought they were going to sell more equipment. That's kind of quieted down. Especially the larger pieces of equipment. It's going to hurt the farm economy and the economy around here."

The announcement of a tentative trade deal with Mexico is seen as a step in the right direction. But many farming sectors are urging the Trump administration to now work on a trade deal with China.

DAVIE STEPHENS VICE PRESIDENT, AMERICAN SOYBEAN ASSOCIATION "China is a huge market to us. We've taken about 35 to 40 years to cultivate that relationship and get it worked out. And we don't want to lose that market as once we lose that market, there is a fear for me, will we get it back."

On the surface, it appears to be business as usual here. But given the uncertainty over tariffs, the reality is anything but. Dan Williams CGTN, Boone, Iowa.