What everybody is saying about the Farm Support details

Reaction continues to pour in after USDA's announcement of the framework for the $16 billion dollar Farming Support Program. Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig applauding another round of financial aid to help with the damages sustained from unjustified retaliation and trade disruption.

“We appreciate President Trump and the USDA offering an interim solution to assist farmers affected by trade disruption,” said Secretary Naig. “However, farmers want trade not aid. Farmers need markets to sell their products. This current situation is not sustainable. We need long-term trade agreements, and I believe we can get there, but we need China to come to the table to negotiate. It’s also imperative that Congress takes action to pass USMCA as quickly as possible to provide certainty for our farmers and businesses.”

Folks involved with Animal Agriculture are somewhat pleased as well.

"We thank President Trump for recognizing that our patriot farmers have borne the brunt of China's trade retaliation," said David Herring, a pork producer from Lillington, N.C., and president of the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC). "The U.S. pork industry has been one of the most adversely affected sectors, receiving a one-two punch in the form of a 50 percent punitive tariff from China on top of the existing 12 percent duty and, until recently, a 20 percent punitive tariff from Mexico. This trade aid will help repair some of the damage inflicted upon U.S. pork producers."

"The current situation in China represents a historic sales opportunity for U.S. pork," Herring added. "The world's largest pork-consuming nation is currently experiencing a dramatic reduction in domestic supply because of an animal disease that has ravaged its national swine herd. We look forward to continued work with the administration to restore favorable access to China, allowing U.S. pork producers to capitalize on this opportunity, reduce our trade deficit with China and deliver enormous benefits to the U.S. economy."

In addition to resolution with the China trade dispute, NPPC urges Congress to quickly ratify the U.S.-Mexico-Canada (USMCA) trade agreement, which preserves zero-tariff access to markets that represent more than 30 percent of total U.S. pork exports.


Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content