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Mixed reactions in farm country as trade aid decision nears

There are some mixed feelings about trade aid in farm country as agriculture awaits more details from the Trump administration.

“I think we’re kind of in the same spot where we were eight years ago when we had all the trade disruptions with China,” says Matt Bainbridge, a farmer from South Dakota. “It seems like soybeans get put in the bullseye right away. I get tired of being a pawn in trade.”

Bainbridge says it would be nice for the markets to function and require less government intervention.

Drew Lock, a farmer in northeast Missouri, says regions feel differently about more trade aid.

“I do feel like a lot of it’s coming from the Delta region and the mid-south. Where I’m at, I’m not saying everybody is, but there’s a lot more diversification. There’s a lot of livestock in my area. We all know the cattle markets have been very good lately and that helps tremendously.”

Market analyst Randy Martinson with Martinson Ag Risk Management says commodity prices were impacted by trade tariffs and retaliation this year. While corn and soybean prices have recovered some, he says cotton and sorghum prices continue to struggle.

“I do think there is, you know, a need for a little bit of a help for the producer,” says Martinson. “But I do think, you know, Washington is looking at this as a slow process and is likely waiting to see what the market will give.”

Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins said this week an announcement on farmer aid from the USDA is expected in the next two weeks.