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Perdue says farmers won’t be casualties in trade dispute

U.S. Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue says he has been in talks with President Trump about tariffs announced by China today that would include soybeans. Perdue says the tariffs aren’t official yet and he hopes that both countries will be able to discuss unfair trading practices and come to an agreement in the next 30-60 days.

“All I can do today is to tell you, which I think is a pretty good assurance, that the President of the United States has told the farmers of America that they will not be the casualties in this trade dispute,” he says.

During Perdue’s “Back to Our Roots” tour stop in Lima Ohio, farmers expressed concern about the tariff announcements.

Northwestern Ohio farmer Craig Pohlman says the 40-cent drop in soybean futures today was an unwelcome surprise…

“Anytime you change that kind of price that quickly changes field decisions for planting this spring,” he says.

John Motter with the United Soybean Board says the announcement is disappointing, but he is encouraged that the administration has said farmers will be protected.

“We need to let the dust settle a little bit,” he says. “Let’s see how this is actually going to play out and how it’s really going to affect us.”

Perdue is continuing his tour through Ohio and then Kentucky.