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President Trump says he won’t terminate NAFTA ‘at this time’

U.S. farm groups condemn the possibility

By Diego Flammini
Assistant Editor, North American Content
Farms.com

President Trump told Mexican President Peña Nieto and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Wednesday he won’t “terminate NAFTA at this time,” but that he looks to update the agreement through renegotiation.

“It is my privilege to bring NAFTA up to date through renegotiation,” President Trump said in statement. “…I believe that the end result will make all three countries stronger and better.”

President Trump zeroed in on the trade deal during to his campaign, calling it “the worst deal maybe ever signed anywhere, but certainly ever signed in this country,” in a debate with then Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton.

Various reports on Wednesday indicated Trump was readying to sign an executive order calling for the United States’ withdrawal from NAFTA.

Prime Minister Trudeau and President Nieto heard about the potential executive order, prompting them to contact President Trump. These conversations lead to his change in position, according to reports.

Many American agricultural groups voiced their displeasure with the possibility of a withdrawal from NAFTA.

And since many chalk up Trump’s presidential victory to rural America, farmers are especially concerned about leaving the trade agreement.

“Mr. President, America’s corn farmers helped elect you,” Wesley Spurlock, National Corn Growers Association president, said in a release. “Withdrawing from NAFTA would be disastrous for American agriculture. This decision will cost America’s farmers and ranchers markets that we will never recover.”

“We are shocked and distressed to see news reports that the Trump Administration is considering an executive order to withdraw the United States from NAFTA,” Tom Sleight, president and CEO, U.S. Grains Council, said in a release. “Our top grain market (Mexico) is not a negotiating tactic.”

Ron Moore, American Soybean Association president, bluntly described the prospect of leaving NAFTA.

“Initiating a process to withdraw from NAFTA is a terrible idea…,” he said in a statement. “If any actions to announce the intent to withdraw from NAFTA are underway, the Administration should immediately abandon such plans and focus instead on ways to work with Canada and Mexico…”


Trending Video

The FCDC and AgSmart Bring Plant Breeding to a Wider Audience

Video: The FCDC and AgSmart Bring Plant Breeding to a Wider Audience

In the vast prairies of Alberta, Olds College’s Field Crop Development Centre (FCDC) stands as a beacon of innovation and research in the agricultural world. The institution has become a key player in advancing agricultural technologies and practices. The FCDC’s commitment to applied research has driven them to seek effective means of disseminating their findings and creating a positive impact on the farming community.

One such avenue that aligns with their mission is AgSmart, an event dedicated to showcasing cutting-edge agricultural technologies. The coming together of the FCDC’s annual Field Day and Ag Smart has proved to be a natural fit, fostering a synergy that benefits both parties and propels the agriculture industry forward. The FCDC Field Day took part in conjunction with AgSmart for the first time this week on Aug. 1-2 in Olds, Alta. FCDC Program Director Kofi Agblor and Olds College VP of Development Todd Ormann sat down for an interview with Marc Zienkiewicz to discuss the significance of the two events taking part together and what the future holds.

The Intersection of Research and Technology The essence of the FCDC lies in its dedication to plant breeding and new seed varieties, particularly barley and triticale. While conducting research is essential, it becomes meaningful when its benefits are shared with the wider community. This is where AgSmart steps in, providing a key venue for the FCDC to showcase their research. This union between research and technology creates a holistic and enriching experience for farmers, ranchers, and industry professionals, the pair said.

Seeds as Technology For the FCDC, the partnership with AgSmart goes beyond mere event collaboration. It is about creating an environment that bridges the gap between seeds and smart technology, Ormann said. The college believes that for technology to truly revolutionize agriculture, it must begin with a strong foundation — high-quality seeds. As the saying goes, “it all starts with a seed.” To demonstrate this critical aspect, the collaboration aims to showcase the seed value chain as an integral part of the smartphone.

The Birth of a Powerful Alliance The idea of joining forces emerged when staff realized the potential synergy between AgSmart and the FCDC Field Day. With just a few days separating the two events, a proposal was put forward to merge them. The marketing and communications teams from both sides worked seamlessly to ensure the essence of both events remained intact, creating a powerful alliance that leverages the strengths of each, Agblor said.

Driving Advancements in Breeding For Agblor, the partnership with AgSmart has tremendous potential to drive advancements in breeding and other technology. With technologies like drones and imaging becoming integral to phenotyping, breeding is no longer confined to vast fields to assess thousands of plants manually. Instead, it benefits from the data-rich insights brought about by smart technologies. These advancements make breeding more efficient, precise, and instrumental in shaping the future of agriculture.

Overcoming Challenges Together While the partnership between Olds College and Ag Smart has been a resounding success, there are challenges on the horizon. Securing stable funding for long-term breeding initiatives is crucial to sustain progress. The college is committed to navigating these challenges and investing in agriculture’s future sustainably, Agblor said.

 

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