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Farmer thanks Pence for support, urges him to make trade progress

Speaking to farmers at Lamb Farms in central Indiana yesterday, Vice President Mike Pence said the administration is working every day to expand markets and improve trading relationships.

North central Indiana farmer Mike Beard thanked Pence for getting the U.S. Mexico Canada Agreement this far and said it needs to be ratified soon.

Beard grows corn and soybeans in Clinton County and has been negatively impacted by retaliatory tariffs.

“Tariffs have lowered the market price of our corn by nearly 60 cents per bushel,” he says. “We raise 200 bushel per acre corn and that $120 an acre. If you raise many acres that’s sustainably negative to your bottom line.”

He says farmers need the administration to continue to maintain and expand markets.

Beard told a story of Pence offering that assurance…

“During the campaign during the state fair, then governor Pence took a left turn and caught me on the sidewalk, he put his arm on my shoulder and said, ‘Don’t worry Mike, it will be alright,’” he says. “Today I want him to tell me that again for me and all corn farmers.”

More than 20 farmers representing corn, soybeans, and livestock met with Pence Thursday in Boone County.

Audio: Mike Beard, Indiana farmer