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USMCA renewal vital for corn farmers

A director with the Illinois Corn Marketing Board says this summer’s review of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada (USMCA) agreement is vital for agriculture.

Southern Illinois farmer Matt Raben tells Brownfield, “Our number one market where we export corn is Mexico. And then our number one ethanol market is Canada.”  He says, “We need to make sure that gets renewed. It’s very important to corn farmers.”

He says the additional demand spurred by America’s neighbors has been a main contributor to overall gains in corn and ethanol exports.

“Corn exports are up 50.5% over this same time last year.”  He says, “When you compare, ethanol exports are up 7.2% over this same time last year. So, I feel like we’re going to hit another record.”

Raben says producers need stable relationships with established export markets, especially in an already struggling ag economy.

The USMCA joint review process is scheduled to begin in July.

AUDIO: Matt Raben – Illinois farmer