Agricultural News
Soybean Association Chairman Weighs In on Ag Policy Priorities Post Election
Mon, 21 Nov 2016 17:59:15 CST
During the National Association of Farm Broadcasters Convention, Wade Cowan, chairman of the American Soybean Association, talked with intern Kalee Horn about how the recent elections would affect important policies including Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and the upcoming Farm Bill.
Like many in agriculture, a primary concern for ASA was the passage of the Trans-Pacific Partnership. However, after the election of Donald Trump, the question of where we would stand on this important partnership was tossed up in the air.
"Trump is a business man and he is going to understand if we come to him and we give his team good reasons why it's positive for agriculture and why in our case it's really positive for soybeans," said Cowan. "He's going to be supportive of that."
Cowan urged producers to seek their commodity groups for their message regarding TPP and to develop their own message for their congressmen. "Tell them we need trade, we need good trade, we need fair trade."
The possibility of creating a 2017 Farm Bill is also something that ASA is advocating. A Texan, Wade says the current farm bill is not a good safety net for those of us in the southwest including Texas and Oklahoma.
"We've taken the lead to get people to work together, try to get them to alter the table, we've been working with all the major commodity groups and trying to get on the same page so we can do something in 2017," said Cowan. "What helps all of us in agriculture is what is good for all of us in rural America."
When this conversation took place, proponants of the trade deal still clung to hopes of getting TPP passed. However, our leaders in Washington, D.C. have since deflated any hope that remained, ultimately deciding not to move any further with TPP action for the time being. The agricultural community must now focus on alternative avenues to accomplish what they had anticipated TPP might accomplish.
Listen to Cowan and Horn discuss ASA's perspective on what impacts a Trump administration will have on working through their legislative agenda, by clicking on the LISTEN BAR below.
This article was authored by Oklahoma State University Division of Agriculture student and Radio Oklahoma Network intern, Kalee Horn of Edmond, Oklahoma.
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