Farms.com Home   News

More Trade Agreements Needed for Agriculture

Last week, I was standing on the edge of a river outside Minneapolis. The water flowing past would travel another 1,854 miles to the Gulf of Mexico. Along the way, it helped move barges loaded with millions of tons of grains, oil, coal, fertilizers, chemicals, and rock essential to businesses across the country and beyond. Of course, I’m talking about the Mississippi River, which is navigable by barge from Minneapolis to the river’s end at the Gulf of Mexico.

This river system, and many others like it, provide an efficient and cost-effective way to export and import commodities and goods. For example, 60% of all the grain U.S. farmers export travels on the Mississippi River. I’ve visited facilities all along the Mississippi, from Minneapolis to export facilities near Baton Rouge. Along the way, I have spoken with farmers and ranchers who rely on international trade for their livelihoods.

When I was in Minnesota last week, I was joined by several state Farm Bureau presidents who belong to our trade advisory committee. We spoke with many stakeholders who, like farmers and ranchers, rely on trade. We discussed needed infrastructure improvements along our river and rail networks and at ocean ports. We also discussed food security and the need for more trade agreements with countries around the world so farmers and ranchers have access to more markets and can compete on a level playing field.

 Our mission as farmers and ranchers is to raise a safe and sustainable source of food, fiber and renewable fuels for families here at home and around the world. 

The war in Ukraine has reminded us just how fragile and connected our food system is. While experts do not expect food shortages in the U.S., less fortunate countries have struggled since losing access to agricultural products from Ukraine. And we’re concerned about getting access to the supplies we need for the next growing season to make fertilizers that are crucial to helping U.S. farmers maintain, and potentially increase, the amount of food we can produce.

As we think about how to prevent crises and work to increase global food security, trade agreements can go a long way to help. By establishing new relationships in many different countries, we can increase the options for consumers and help mitigate shortages if one supplier can’t deliver. And U.S. farmers and ranchers have shown they can compete and win in any market when we’re given fair opportunity. We deliver a superior product, and consumers in other countries seek out the “Product of the USA” label.

Click here to see more...

Trending Video

World Pork Expo: Evonik monitors the impact of trypsin inhibitors in nursery pigs

Video: World Pork Expo: Evonik monitors the impact of trypsin inhibitors in nursery pigs

Dr. Maria Mendoza, Global Consulting Expert with Evonik, recently spoke to The Pig Site’s Sarah Mikesell at the World Pork Expo in Des Moines, Iowa, USA about the use of trypsin inhibitors in soy products and how that effects the digestion of amino acids. The variability of quality of the soy products can affect the rations of the soy products in the complete diet of the pigs. Evonik has monitoring services that can assist producers with determining the variability in their suppliers’ soy products.