Regardless of Politics, Trade Benefits Agriculture

Regardless of Politics, Trade Benefits Agriculture

International trade, including trade agreements such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership, provides big benefits for agriculture. Tom Sleight CEO of the U.S. Grains Council says the rough political environment for trade means farmers need to be talking about the benefits international trade provides to agriculture.

Sleight: "Decisions that farmers make now on their own operations will affect international trade. So it is something that farmers need to be aware of is that trade is a big part of their operation. That 95.7 percent of the world's population lives out of the United States and if they are producing food, fuel or fiber, they need to be paying attention to those type of demographics."?

Sleight says agriculture is the U.S. foreign trade champion and needs to lead trade discussions forward.

Sleight: "I think particularly in today's environment, the political races that are going on right now with trade getting a bad name. We need to be talking very positive about trade as we are at the top of the list when it comes to positive contribution to our balance of trade. We need to looking at international market. We need to be engaging in international marketing, engaging in these trade agreements like the Trans-Pacific Partnership as a very key component to their futures. We like to say that when trade works, the world wins. U.S. is a trading country by nature and we are well positioned. It will be a big part of our present and a big part of our future."

Previous ReportHow to Begin Transition or Transfer Process for Small Ag-Related Businesses
Next ReportRegional Weekly Hay Report