From Ag Wired
President Donald J. Trump signed the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) on January 29, replacing the outdated North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), with improved access to both markets for U.S. farmers and ranchers.
“This agreement is a tremendous breakthrough for American agriculture,” said President Trump in remarks before signing the agreement. “Poultry exports to Canada are expected to rise 50 percent and egg exports could increase by 500 percent.”
American agricultural exports are expected to increase by $2.2 billion under USMCA, with annual dairy exports anticipated to grow by nearly $315 million. “Very importantly, Canada will finally give fair treatment to American grown wheat,” President Trump said.
Locally, farmers are hopeful for some great changes in market prices and market availability. Farming has been a pretty tough job in the last few years and a trade deal, such as this one can certainly make a difference for our Terry County farmers, as well as farmers across the country.
Local Terry County Producer Tony Dill stated, “Texas sells more to Mexico than any other state. NAFTA was 25 years old and needed updating. USMCA is a more current trade agreement that will benefit agriculture by $2 billion more than the previous agreement. Trade is very important to Texas agriculture. I am hoping with the passage of USMCA and the trade deal with China being signed, that the future of agriculture in the USA just got a lot brighter.”
Once again, there were farmers and ranchers on hand to witness the signing, and agricultural organizations are united in praise for the agreement.
National Cattlemen’s Beef Association President Jennifer Houston says they were once again honored to participate in another great victory for the industry. “Of course, the ratification of USMCA comes on the heels of a game-changing new trade deal with China, a new bilateral agreement with our largest export partners in Japan, and much-improved access to the European Union…2020 is off to a truly historic start for U.S. beef producers.”
National Corn Growers Association President Kevin Ross was there and declared it a big win for American agriculture, since Mexico and Canada are the U.S. corn industry’s largest, most reliable market; 21.4 million metric tons of corn and corn co-products, valued at $4.56 billion, were exported to Mexico and Canada in 2018.
National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) President David Herring attended today’s signing ceremony, as well as seven other NPPC board members: Scott Hays (Missouri), Dale Reicks (Iowa), Duane Stateler (Ohio), Lori Stevermer (Minnesota), Kraig Westerbeek (North Carolina), Terry Wolters (Minnesota) and Russell Vering (Nebraska).
Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative and its members hailed today’s signing of a bill to implement the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement as a “tremendous victory” for the U.S. dairy community and praised Congress and President Trump’s administration for completing the deal.
National Cotton Council Chairman Mike Tate said this trade agreement will provide a boost in trade certainty for U.S. cotton and cotton textile products in the North American market.
Members of the American Soybean Association (ASA) board of directors from five states attended the signing ceremony at the White House in celebration of the new treaty that will maintain access to two of their top markets, and it will also support the poultry and dairy industries that are important to soy.
Many people see stories such as this one and think it has nothing to do with them, but the truth is that there is not one segment of society that is not affected by agriculture and how well our farmers in this country are doing. Support local agriculture and pray for rain!
