Agricultural News
Despite the Odds, Ag Organizations Continue Fight for TPP Vote Before Lame Duck Session Ends
Fri, 14 Oct 2016 12:17:09 CDT
In spite of the negative rhetoric coming out of both camps of the presidential candidates, agricultural organizations - three in particular, including the National Pork Producers Council, the National Cattlemen's Beef Association and the American Farm Bureau - continue to push aggressively for a vote on the Trans-Pacific Partnership by congress during the lame duck session. Farm Director Ron Hays spoke with Kent Bacus of NCBA on why this vote is so important to America's agriculture industry.
"Asia and the Pacific Rim over all represent the fastest growing population in the world and fastest growing economies," Bacus said. "These consumers want protein as part of their diet and we want to be in competition for that demand."
Bacus says if the US does not act quickly, its competitors will; working to secure those markets for their own producers and could potentially push the US out completely from the running. He says that would mean forfeiting those value-added sales and all the benefits that come with that including the $4.4 billion in new farm income and 40k jobs that TPP would create.
While uncertainty prevails on whether or not a vote on TPP will in fact happen before a new congress and presidential administration takes over, Bacus asserts there is a change in tone in the national discussion for TPP lending a positive air.
"We're certainly starting to see a change in tone from members of congress, especially some in positions of leadership," Bacus said.
Zippy Duvall, president of AFBF, says he and his organization is right there with NCBA in the fight for TPP ratification. Both he and Bacus strongly urge the members of their respective organizations to continue to engage their congressional leaders and push for a vote this fall.
Listen to Farm Director Ron Hays with ag policy advocates Kent Bacus and Zippy Duvall discuss the importance of an immediate vote on TPP, on today's Beef Buzz.
The Beef Buzz is a regular feature heard on radio stations around the region on the Radio Oklahoma Network and is a regular audio feature found on this website as well. Click on the LISTEN BAR below for today's show and check out our archives for older Beef Buzz shows covering the gamut of the beef cattle industry today.
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