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South Dakota farmer interested in new ag trade policy

A South Dakota farmer says he’s looking forward to seeing how the ag trade picture could change in a new administration.

Scott VanderWal tells Brownfield “I’m disappointed the Biden administration isn’t doing much on it. We need to get our products sold outside the country or wherever we can and expand those markets.”

Incoming President Donald Trump campaigned on imposing tariffs on all imports, including 60% tariffs on goods from China and some agriculture groups have expressed concern that might cause another trade war. VanderWal says that would be a complication, but “we need to take things as they come and do our best to communicate that there are other ways to negotiate with countries other than tariffs.”

VanderWal farms in Brookings County, South Dakota and is the vice president of the American Farm Bureau Federation.