Co Corn Growers on Trade Aid

Colorado Corn Growers Association says tariffs resulting from the lengthening trade war with China have hit agriculture especially hard.

Association President, David Eckhardt, a farmer from Peckham, released a statement saying that the announcement for a relief strategy will provide short-term assistance and help rebuild market access; however on this next point he agrees with Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue.

"Farmers themselves will tell you they'd rather have trade than aid."

In his statement, Eckhardt says, "Farmers like myself, would much rather earn their living through open markets. As an organization, CCGA calls upon the Administration to continue to negotiate a fair deal that resolves the unbalanced and often unlawful trade issues with China."

CCGA will continue to worked with their affiliates at National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) and Southwest Council of Agribusiness (SWCA) to convey to the USDA the importance of an equitable payment method for those who elect to participate in the second Market Facilitation Program (MFP).

Colorado Corn growers made it clear a penny per bushel appropriated in the first mitigation package was not a fair reflection of the damages growers have been hit with. The updated Market Facilitation Program uses a different approach than the previous plan in 2018. Instead of a penny a bushel farmers will receive a single rate payment on planted acres. However, farmers say basing the payments on 2019 planted acres may not help if growers don't get seed in the ground.