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President Trump speaks Monday at the annual convention of the American Farm Bureau Federation in New Orleans.
Mandel Ngan / AFP / Getty Images
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Mandel Ngan / AFP / Getty Images
President Trump speaks Monday at the annual conference of the American Federation of Farm Bureau in New Orleans
Mandel Ngan / AFP / Getty Images
President Trump spoke on Monday of the Centennial Meeting of the US Federation of Farm Office, which had close ties with rural voters who were a key factor in his election in 2016.
"I am proud to be a great friend of the farmer, "Trump said, addressing the group's convention for the second year in a row.
The president was applauded by telling the administration's efforts to reduce regulation and save the richest farmers the inheritance tax.
Trump devoted most of his speech to the current stalemate over the border wall, a fighting that has shut down the doors of the federal government, including a large part of the US Department of Agriculture.
"The USDA is doing everything in its power to help farmers cope with the ongoing closure," said Trump, even as crop forecasts had been delayed and Agricultural Service Agency in the country were closed. "The people who work in these offices are our neighbors," said Kristin Duncanson, who raises hogs, corn and soybeans in Mapleton, Minnesota. "You must feel bad for them not to receive a salary." 19659014] Trump insists once again on the fact that Congress approves funding its $ 5.7 billion wall to resolve what he called a humanitarian and security crisis at the US border with the Mexico. 19659008] Illegal border crossings were actually less frequent in recent years than in 2014 and 2016 and, at one point, Trump seemed to recognize that the border situation had not changed so much. spectacular.
"It's been here for decades," said Trump.
Jim Chilton, breeder in Arizona, whose property borders Mexico, echoed the president's call for a new barrier.
". Mr. Speaker, we need a wall, "said Chilton when he briefly joined Trump on stage.
Other farmers are more concerned with finding enough labor south of the border.
"You need people to help you with farms. , "Trump conceded." I will make things easier. "
He did not specify
While exit polls show that Trump won 62% of the vote Rural vote in 2016, the agricultural belt was not necessarily part of the booming US economy.Net farm income dropped by about 12% last year, a drop from about 40% from its 2013 peak.
"We need to ensure that the agricultural economy is flourishing again, not only for farmers and ranchers, but also when our populations are thriving. helps our industry partners, "said Dale Moore, executive vice president of the Farm Bureau Federation.
The decline in farm income is partly the result of cyclical factors, including overproduction and a resulting decrease p in material prices first.
Trump's withdrawal from a trade agreement between Asia and the Pacific is putting American exporters at a disadvantage in markets such as Japan. And other countries have imposed retaliatory tariffs on a wide variety of agricultural products.
Trump tried to reassure his audience that his aggressive commercial policy would soon bear fruit.
"We are repairing disastrous trade deals," Trump said. "Many, many new markets are opening up."
China, which had been a major buyer of American soybeans, almost stopped buying in the last year in retaliation for Trump's tariffs. There are, however, signs of thaw as trade talks with China continue.
Trump boasted of having an updated version of North American free trade. An agreement will boost agricultural trade with Mexico and Canada, provided it gets congressional approval.
In the meantime, the administration is offering $ 12 billion in assistance to farmers affected by the trade war.
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