(photo: Kendell Kubasch / KRWC Radio)
We have more information today from this week’s agriculture forum hosted by Munson Lakes Nutrition in Howard Lake.
U-S Senator Amy Klobuchar was on hand for the session that drew some 60 agribusiness persons from throughout the region. The senator outlined some of the issues that continue to block progress on a new Farm Bill…
“We have many challenges ahead. The first challenge right in front of us is in this reconciliation bill in that some of the money that is in that bill is going to determine what a Farm Bill could look like.”
Discussion turned to tariffs early in the forum. Senator Klobuchar said that there has been clear concern from the ag community on repercussions of a possible trade war…
“I have been really proud of how loud the farm groups have been on this, in a good way. I think it’s made some difference, but not enough. So the status is right now, is that there is a pause, but, still at 10% tariff against nearly everyone we deal with. And then there is a Canada 25% tariff, on Canada and Mexico, except for the things that are in the USMCA, in the trade agreement. There is a possibility that more things could go into the USMCA, you might wonder why weren’t they in the USMCA in the first place right? Well it’s because they were in 0% tariffs, so they really didn’t need to be in the USMCA.”
Minnesota Farmers Union President Gary Wertish acknowledged the downside of a prolonged negative world market on Minnesota producers…
“The longer this drags on the, more damage there’s going to be. Our concern is that we’re destroying our trust as a reliable trading partner, so the sooner we can get that to stop, cause that damage is already there. It’s going to be long term damage…it’s going to outlive this administration.”
Minnesota Farmers Union President Gary Wertish.
*On Thursday (4/17), this story originally incorrectly identified the above comments to MN Farm Bureau President Dan Glessing. KRWC Radio News apologizes for the error.*
More topics and discussion from this week’s ag forum at Munson Lakes Nutrition in Howard Lake in the coming days.
(audio courtesy: Kendell Kubasch / KRWC Radio
