WASHINGTON, Nov. 8, 2016 - More than a year of campaigning
comes to an end today when we choose the next president. While the farm bill
may actually be a bigger event for U.S. agriculture, there’s a lot riding on
the election today for farmers, ranchers, exporters, seed companies, meat
packers and many others.
Hillary Clinton has said she supports immigration reform, a key issue for
farmers across the country that constantly struggle for a stable labor force to
bring in the crops. Donald Trump has said he’d be the president that would do
away with the overregulation that farm groups say threaten to strangle their
productivity.
Trump, in a
response to a query from the American Farm Bureau Federation, had this
to say about regulation: “Our nation’s regulatory system is completely broken.
Terrible rules are written by unelected, unaccountable bureaucrats who often
know nothing about the people they are regulating. The regulators have all of
the power, and our nation’s farmers are often forced to endure costly,
burdensome, and unwise regulations that are bad for American farmers and
consumers. In many instances, extreme environmental groups have more influence
in setting the regulations than the farmers and ranchers who are directly
impacted.”
And here’s what the Clinton campaign had
to say to the Farm Bureau about immigration reform: “Hillary knows
that migrant farmworkers play a critical role in developing and supporting our
agricultural economy. She has heard from farmers across the country who have
expressed their frustrations about our broken immigration system … Hillary understands
that the agricultural industry needs comprehensive immigration reform to
protect both farm owners and the workers they employ, and ensure American
families are able to put affordable, fresh food on their tables.”
National polls put Clinton slightly ahead going into the final stretch, but it
would be a completely different situation if it was America’s farmers who had
the final say, according to Agri-Pulse’s own survey. About 55 percent
of those surveyed in the latest Agri-Pulse
Farm and Ranch Poll said they would vote for Trump and just 18 percent
said they would vote for Clinton.
In case you’d like to take one more look at where the nominees stand on ag and
rural issues, check out our position papers on Clinton and Trump.
New NFU survey shows staunch opposition to TPP. With the daily barrage of
material bolstering the Trans-Pacific Partnership coming from the U.S. Trade
Representative and the long list of farm groups that support the trade pact, it
can be easy to forget that not all of U.S. agriculture wants to see Congress
ratify it this year.
A new poll of Wisconsin Farmers Union members showed that 80 percent of those
surveyed don’t trust that TPP benefits will materialize, especially for dairy
farmers. The study, released Monday by the National Farmers Union, is a loud
reminder that there remains significant opposition to the massive trade deal
that includes the U.S., Japan, Mexico, Canada, Australia, New Zealand,
Singapore, Chile, Brunei, Malaysia, Peru and Vietnam.
“In the case of TPP, we will be opening our borders to a flood of low-cost
[milk protein concentrates] from New Zealand, which will displace Wisconsin
milk in cheese production,” said WFU President Darin Von Ruden. “This loss will
supposedly be offset by giving U.S. dairy producers access to the Japanese
market, but that access could evaporate overnight if Japan manipulates its
currency to make U.S. imports more expensive. TPP should be put on hold until
it includes binding provisions against currency manipulation.”
For more on the latest TPP support among farmers and ranchers, check out our
story in this week’s edition of Agri-Pulse.
USDA report: Fracking can help and hurt farm incomes. Farms in regions
that are rich in shale formations that contain natural gas can either profit or
suffer from the situation, according to a new report from
USDA’s Economic Research Service.
Farmers may have a hard time competing with hydraulic fracturing companies for
labor, energy and transportation resources, but there’s also money to be made
by agricultural producers if they own the mineral rights tied to their land,
the report concluded.
“Royalties or leases associated with energy production can form an important
part of farm-related income,” the report said. “In 2014, energy-related income
accounted for 4 to 6 percent of gross cash farm income in Oklahoma, Pennsylvania,
and Texas. And total payments to farm businesses from energy companies reached
$2.9 billion in 2014, up from $2.3 billion in 2011.”
U.S. Wheat Associates choose new president. The U.S. Wheat Associates
Board of Directors announced Monday
they have chosen Vince Peterson, the head of the group’s overseas operations,
to be the next USW president. USW has been looking for months for a new
president, ever since Alan Tracy announced in June his plans to retire.
Tracy, who has led USW for 20 years, will step down as president in June next
year.
“Protecting and expanding export demand for wheat has always been critical, but
never more so than in this depressed market,” said USW Chairman Jason Scott.
“The entire board believes that Vince Peterson is the right person at the right
time to fill the President’s position after Alan retires. He has spent his
entire career in the grain trade and has been a steady hand directing overseas
marketing efforts for USW over the last 31 years. This also represents a very
practical way to make this transition.”
#30
For more news, go to: www.Agri-Pulse.com
