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Organic farmer not directly impacted by trade disputes

An organic crop and livestock farmer says ongoing trade disputes have not directly impacted his operation.

Charlie Johnson of Madison, South Dakota, tells Brownfield he’s more concerned about organic fraud.

“Countries like Turkey, Ukraine, (and) Russia are bringing in huge amounts of fraudulent grain.  In other words, it’s conventional corn and soybeans that are turned around and marketed as organic even though there’s not a legitimate paper trail to document that.”

He says the USDA is making strides exposing fraudulent imports as the U.S. continues its reliance on organic products from overseas.

“We produce only about a third of the organic grain needed in (the U.S.).  But when you have this organic fraud going on, it’s hard to break into that organic grain market when you have that type of situation going on.”

Johnson says he’s not in favor of the $12 billion in aid to help offset trade losses.  He suggests the Trump Administration take that money and put it towards small and beginning farmers.