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Expanding export opportunities could help boost demand for U.S. farmers

The CEO of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture says expanding market access for U.S. commodities is key to driving long-term growth in the ag industry. 

Ted McKinney tells Brownfield, “We’ve got to keep the promotion up to diversify those markets, so we’re not hung out there in any one huge single market,” he says.

He says Southeast Asia is one of the largest export opportunities for the U.S.

“They know our quality, they know our safety,” he says. “I think they also had a taste of China and they want to trade with China. They don’t want to walk away, but they don’t want to be owned by China. We have some strength that maybe others don’t have, so they realize they need to tap in and I think it’s just up to us to negotiate well on what those deals are.”

McKinney says NASDA remains committed to maintaining and negotiating new trade deals, which will help farmers be better positioned for the years to come.

AUDIO: Ted McKinney, NASDA