Gay Bowlin, Manager
Last week my father-in-law went to be with the Lord and my heart is broken – he always enjoyed reading my articles and I am dedicated this article to Alva “Bud” Bowlin. Forever loved and forever missed.
WOW! The weather has been really uncooperative all over the state – at least three inches of snow in Bloomington area, about four inches of rain in our area and even tornado watches. Not sure when planting will begin but you can be sure that when the farmers are able to get in the fields that they will be going full force. Once again that means that they will be on the roadways and I really want you to watch out for them. Their equipment is MUCH larger than yours and there are many places that are blind spots for them.
China imposed tariffs on a range of U.S. goods, following through on a promise to retaliate against the Trump administration’s penalties on imports of Chinese steel and aluminum.
~ Farm Bureau opposes any U.S. policy that restricts agricultural exports. The administration’s trade policy represents an open invitation for one of our biggest trading partners – in this case China – to retaliate.
~We export more than 25 percent of our pork. China’s retaliatory 25 percent tariff on U.S. pork will reduce our exports to China and damage farm profitability at an already difficult time for farmers.
~ For a pig farmer, the difference right now between making money and losing money is exports. Without huge markets like China, pig farmers lose money.
~ The timing is never good for a trade fight, and here’s why: o Farmers have endured four years in a row of declining net farm income
~ USDA projects that farm income in 2018 could be the lowest in 12 years
~ Exports represent our biggest demand driver right now and defending our markets tops the list of our members’ concerns.
~ China is a key market for U.S. pork. In 2017, the U.S. exported more than $660 million in pork products to China. China is the United States’ third-largest international market by volume and the fourth-largest by value.
~ Agriculture has a positive trade balance of $21 billion. It is a bright spot on our nation’s overall balance of trade. We must do all we can to halt the spread of this trade war.
~ In addition to our agricultural exports, this is also about American jobs. Any time American agriculture takes a hit, all the jobs that rely on – or stem from – the ag sector also take a hit. This includes everyone from equipment sales and service providers to those working in the financial sector.
The Young Leaders Pork Loin sale was a huge success – thank you to everyone who ordered and to Mike Thomas who, once again, did an amazing job of smoking 60 loins. All proceeds go toward the Young Leaders Scholarship which is due this Thursday, April 5th by 4 p.m. If you have any questions please call the office at 435-3616.
This past Friday I was honored by the Benton Elks with the Distinguished Citizenship Award – I only mention this because the reason that I was given this award was because of the work that I do with the Franklin County Farm Bureau. I felt humbled in receiving this award and very proud at the same time that there are those out there who are aware of everything that the Farm Bureau is doing.
Remember we are farmers working together. If we can help let us know.
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