Trade will help grain producers, congressman says

The president believes the United States-Mexico-Canada trade agreement, which still needs congressional approval, is a better overall pact for the U.S. than the North American Free Trade Agreement.

“I told him failure is not an option,” Marshall said. He has been supportive of the new agreement and hopes it will receive bipartisan support.

The president, he said, has listened to farmers and ranchers as the USMCA trade pact retains much of the provisions that made agricultural trade favorable with Mexico and Canada while addressing manufacturing and intellectual property manners that did need updating, Marshall said.

The trade dispute with China has many ramifications and examples such as intellectual theft to protect American innovation, such as gene editing, are in the best interest of farmers and ranchers although protecting that practice receives minimal media attention.

Chinese leaders are aware of Trump’s stance and the president believes the Chinese want to end the tariff war too.

“He is very optimistic it will get done,” Marshall said.

Prominent critic

The congressman was aware of Barry Flinchbaugh’s recent criticism of the Trump instigated tariff war that has not only cost market access it also has hurt manufacturers who need access to steel and aluminum markets. Flinchbaugh is a Kansas State University’s agricultural policy expert.

“Dr. Flinchbaugh is a great friend and mentor and knows a lot about farm bills. His views on trade and tariffs are well-known and I have a respect for his knowledge,” Marshall said, adding he agrees with the frustration voiced by the policy expert. “But he is not the president. My job is the work with the president and the public to get something done and find a long term solution.”

As he visited with constituents about the impact low prices are having on the morale and mental health of farmers and ranchers Marshall said an agreement with China would provide an emotional and a financial boost to them.

Farm bill implementation

Marshall said while it took a while for Congress to get a farm bill he did believe changes for grain producers, particularly with allowing the to have greater flexibility with Agricultural Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage by allowing producers to use coverage rather than only being able to choose one like in the 2014 farm bill gives producers greater risk protection.

“They can now split them up,” he said, adding that decoupling the programs was a consistent message he has heard from producers the past two years.

“The focus is on implementation of the farm bill,” he said, adding the federal government shutdown earlier in the year has backlogged work. He is anxious to see how farmers and ranchers will view it and Congress can weigh in on oversight.

Marshall said the beef sector continue to be a bright sport for the state’s economy and ethanol production for E-15 fuel appears to be closer to being a reality for the summer travel season.

Marshall spoke with constituents and also with media members before and after his presentation March 23 during 3i SHOW activities at the Western State Bank Expo in Dodge City, Kansas.

Dave Bergmeier can be reached at 620-227-1822 or dbergmeier@hpj.com.