State of Indiana sent this bulletin at 11/26/2019 02:12 PM EST
Hoosier farmers deserve trade deal's benefits
Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch and Bruce Kettler
For almost a year, negotiations on the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement have been complete.
Farmers in Indiana have been patiently waiting for Congress to ratify the deal, which would provide greater access to markets and a sense of certainty that they desperately need.
It's been a rough year for Hoosier farmers as they have dealt with low commodity prices, poor planting conditions and now a late harvest.
We need Congress to set politics aside and pass the trade deal now.
The deal has several key provisions that will greatly benefit our Hoosier farmers and citizens.
First, the elimination of Canada's unfair milk-pricing program will allow our dairy farmers to compete, therefore giving them additional export opportunities overseas.
Canada will provide new access for U.S. dairy products including milk, cream, butter, skim milk powder and cheese
Indiana's dairy industry is worth $750 million and the world wants access to our products.
Second, the agreement sets unprecedented standards for agricultural biotechnology, helping to support 21st century innovations in agriculture such as gene editing. Our industry has made significant strides in biotechnology since NAFTA went into effect in 1994. The new deal will enhance science-based standards while increasing information-sharing and cooperation on agricultural biotechnology trade-related matters.
Finally, this trade agreement will further strengthen Indiana's relationship with Mexico and Canada. Indiana exports $18.8 billion worth of goods to these two countries, and the deal will foster additional growth through removal of tariffs and increased market access.
Expanding markets and promoting free trade are pillars of our state department of agriculture, and we strive to encourage economic development and international trade among agribusinesses. Last September, we organized a trade mission to Mantioba, Canada, where we discussed agricultural technology and cooperative opportunities. This past July, we traveled to Hidalgo, Mexico, to further develop our relationships and foster growth between our two states in the areas of agriculture, investment and food safety.
Earlier this year, we held roundtable discussions with Indiana farmers and Indiana Farm Bureau members across the state to hear their thoughts and concerns on trade.
The message was clear: Work with our congressional delegation to pass the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement immediately. It will provide certainty to our agricultural industry and pave the way for more robust growth in rural Indiana.
Our farmers and agribusinesses have spoken, and they want freer markets, fairer trade and robust economic growth in Indiana.
Nov. 30 marks one year since President Donald Trump met with the leaders of Canada and Mexico. They signed off on an agreement that will bring greater prosperity to all of us.
But first, Congress needs to stop playing games and agree that the passage of the deal is an economic win for everyone.
Director Kettler recently returned from a U.S. delegation trip to Taiwan to build relationships and encourage trade for our soybean farmers. This trip was organized by the U.S. Soybean Export Council who was celebrating a 50 year relationship with Taiwan. On this trip, delegates met with officials to better understand how Taiwan views soybeans and what their top uses are. They also toured a tofu production facility along with the largest soybean crusher in Taiwan. We are excited to see what the future holds for this relationship and our U.S. soybean farmers.
This week, Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch accepted more than 100 tons, or 200,000 pounds, of poultry products on behalf of the state as part of the 72nd annual poultry donation. Lt. Governor Crouch, the Indiana State Poultry Association (ISPA), the Indiana State Department of Agriculture and Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana came together to provide poultry products to families in need ahead of the holiday season.
The strength of Indiana’s poultry sector was also recognized during the ceremony as one of the top poultry producing states in the country. According to the USDA National Agriculture Statistics Service, Indiana ranks No. 1 in duck production, No. 2 in chicken and egg production and No. 4 in turkey production.
The poultry industry is a substantial economic driver for the state and contributes more than $12 billion in total economic activity. Additionally, this sector employs more than 12,000 Hoosiers.
Aside from the donations made today, ISPA members continually give back to their local communities throughout the year. Paul Brennan, ISPA President, expressed that over the last 12 months ISPA members have contributed more than 900,000 eggs and 150,000 pounds of poultry meat and egg products to their local communities.
Today’s ceremony marks an annual tradition that dates back to the late 1940s. Organized by ISPA, one of the oldest poultry organizations in the nation, it was designed to recognize the strength of Indiana’s poultry industry, as well as the annual donations made by its members, who are responsible for over 95 percent of the chicken, duck, turkey and eggs produced in Indiana.
Last week 19 U.S. states joined their state and provincial counterparts from Mexico and Canada in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada for the 28th annual Tri-National Agricultural Accord. ISDA Deputy Director, Jordan Seger, represented Indiana and joined colleagues in calling on the United States and Canadian governments to ratify the United States-Mexico-Canada (USMCA) Trade Agreement as soon as possible.
It's not Christmas without a tree. Dull's Tree Farm in Thorntown knows this all too well. For 14 years, Dull's has worked with FedEx Cares and the Christmas Spirit Foundation for their Trees for Troops program.
To ensure our service men and women will have a fresh, real Christmas tree for the holiday season, this program matches FedEx workers and volunteers with local tree farms and ships Christmas trees across the globe to countless military bases and families.
Dull's Tree Farm was the kickoff host for the nationwide event and hosted nearly 50 volunteers from Indiana, Colorado and Tennessee. Volunteers wrapped trees, taped boxes and loaded them into the Fedex trucks. In total they donated and shipped roughly 200 Christmas trees to military bases in Guam, Afghanistan and Alaska.
Along with a Christmas tree, each box contained a bag of ornaments and a handwritten note. Dull's Tree Farm is an Indiana Grown member and their generosity does not go unnoticed.
