By Julie Tomascik
Editor
Last year was challenging for farmers and ranchers, but President Donald Trump’s address at the American Farm Bureau Federation’s annual convention described intentions for a better year ahead for agriculture.
Trump, who addressed more than 5,000 of the nation’s farmers and ranchers on Jan. 19, focused much of his speech on the economic wellbeing of U.S. agriculture and what he and his administration are doing to help improve the financial standing of farmers and ranchers across the country.
“My administration is fighting for the American farmer, and it’s been fighting for the farmer and rancher every single day,” Trump said. “And together we’ve achieved something truly stunning, and really it was a historic number of victories—not one. We had numerous victories.”
Among those victories, Trump touted the “phase one” agreement with China and the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) that received final congressional approval last week.
“We signed a groundbreaking trade agreement with China. Under the deal, China has agreed to spend many billions of dollars on American services and energy and manufactured goods,” he said. “The deal with China will tear down market barriers and pry open vast new markets for American beef, pork, poultry, seafood, soybeans, rice, dairy, infant formula, animal feed, biotechnology and much, much more. This is an incredible success for our entire country. And it was your fortitude, your perseverance and your devotion that made it all possible.”
Trump noted China has also made substantial commitments regarding the protection of American ideas, trade secrets, patents and trademarks.
USMCA represents an important step in the economic recovery of American agriculture. The trade deal is expected to boost American agricultural exports, enhance biotechnology standards, reduce trade distorting policies and establish modern sanitary and phytosanitary standards, among others.
“In a matter of days, we will achieve another tremendous victory for the American agricultural businesses when I sign the USMCA into law,” Trump told farmers and ranchers.
He also highlighted trade agreements with Japan and others.
“We persuaded Japan to slash tariffs on $7 billion of U.S. agricultural products. Over 90% of our agricultural exports to Japan will now receive preferential treatment,” he said. “We secured guaranteed access for American beef to the EU, European Union, a deal that will nearly triple our beef exports to Europe in the coming years. And as you know, Europe’s had tremendous barriers to us doing business. Well, those barriers are coming down.”
In addition to trade, Trump noted the efforts his administration made to provide regulatory relief by repealing the Obama-era “Waters of the U.S.” rule that expanded federal jurisdiction of some wetlands and streams.
“This rule gave bureaucrats virtually unlimited authority to regulate stock tanks, drainage ditches and isolated ponds as navigable waterways and navigable water,” he said. “Sometimes you’d have a puddle, a little puddle, and they consider that a lake. As long as I’m president, government will never micromanage America’s farmers. You’re going to micromanage your own farm. And that’s the way it should be.”
During his third consecutive address to AFBF’s annual convention, Trump touted the increase in spending on rural broadband and efforts to repeal the estate tax.
“We passed the biggest tax cuts and reforms in American history by far and to help you keep your family farm and keep it in the family, we virtually eliminated the deeply unfair estate tax or death tax,” Trump said. “The great men and women in this room are the stewards of an inheritance and a noble tradition that’s unrivaled. It’s handed down from one generation to the next, all the way back to the very beginning of our country. You take pride in your work, joy in your calling and deep satisfaction in your vital contributions to the life and health and success of our republic.”
Trump championed the efforts and outlook of farmers and ranchers.
“There are no better stewards of our precious natural resources than the American farmers who depend on the land and the environment for their very livelihood,” he said. “You embody the spirit of optimism that has always defined this magnificent country. You look at an empty field in the dead of winter, and you envision the spark of life in the peak of spring. That’s what you see. You see differently than other people. Farmers have always been the keepers of our great American values. You champion the love of family, the dignity of work and the glory of God. You teach your children to celebrate our nation, defend our freedom, honor our values and to always respect and cherish our great American flag.”
“With your faith, your grit, your tenacity, your talent and your patriotism—the best days for America and the best days for America’s farmers and ranchers are yet to come,” Trump said.
Texas Farm Bureau members were in attendance. Click here to watch Trump’s address.