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American farmers worried about South Korea-U.S. trade relations

American farmers worried about South Korea-U.S. trade relations

President Trump may pull out of KORUS

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

U.S. dairy producers are concerned that, if President Trump pulls out of the South Korea-U.S. (KORUS) trade agreement, it could have significant impacts on the industry.

In April, Trump called KORUS a “horrible deal” that has “destroyed” the United States.

And on July 12, United States Trade Representative Robert Lightizer called for special sessions of discussions to address concerns.

South Korea imported 94 million pounds of U.S. cheese last year. Early estimates indicate the country could import more cheese by 2021, according to the U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC). Only Mexico imported more American cheese than South Korea.

If the trade agreement between South Korea and the United States dissolves, “U.S. cheese exports to Korea would be subject to the pre-FTA tariff of 36 percent, while all of our key competitors could keep shipping millions of pounds of cheese duty-free,” the USDEC said.

Dairy cows don’t produce milk based on the world markets and farmers looking for new customers as a result of a loss of a trade relationship would be doing so from a position of weakness.

“We can’t cut supply to match the fall of demand that would happen if (South) Korea quit buying dairy products from this country,” Ken Nobis, president of the Michigan Milk Producers Association, told Michigan Radio on Sept. 3. “It could have an impact globally. Because we would in turn try to find another customer and the way you try to find another customer is you cut prices. It’s very tenuous.”

Other farm groups have also voiced their concerns with the President’s proposed action.

South Korea imports 1.3 million tons of soybeans annually, about half of which come from U.S. producers.

And the American Soybean Association (ASA) is frustrated it has to continually defend global trade to the President.

“The idea that we’re the only game in town when it comes to selling soybeans or other agricultural products abroad is false,” ASA president Ron Moore said in a Sept. 3 statement. “Trade makes our local businesses and our communities stronger.

“Yet whether it’s South Korea, Mexico and Canada, or our neighbors on the Pacific Rim, we once again find ourselves fighting to communicate the value of trade to farmers.”

American wheat farmers are forecasted to ship 4.56 million metric tons of wheat to South Korea in 2016-2017, according to wheat grower organizations. South Korea is the third-largest market for American wheat.

Therefore, the U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) and National Association of Wheat Grower (NAWG) are also urging President Trump to stay the course and keep KORUS as is. Walking away from the negotiating table creates opportunities for other countries.

“Any disruption in the relationship (American) wheat growers have built in (South) Korea over more than 60 years gives Australia, Canada and even Russia an opening to move in and take business away from us…,” Mike Miller, USW chairman, said in a Sept. 4 statement.


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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