Farm Discontent Spills Over as Ag Secretary Is Confronted in Minnesota

[left-of-center2012]

Source: Bloomberg

Farmers’ discontent over President Donald Trump’s escalating trade war with China erupted into the open Wednesday as his agriculture secretary was confronted at a fair in rural Minnesota. Gary Wertish, president of the Minnesota Farmers Union, drew applause as he leveled criticism of the administration’s trade policy at a forum with Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue in front of thousands of farmers gathered in a metal barn for a panel discussion.

American farmers took a fresh financial hit from Trump’s trade war over the weekend as China announced a halt to all U.S. agricultural imports after the president threatened Beijing with another tariff increase.

Wertish criticized Trump’s “go-it-alone approach” and the trade dispute’s “devastating damage not only to rural communities.” He expressed fears Trump’s $28 billion in trade aid will undermine public support for federal farm subsidies, saying the assistance is already being pilloried “as a welfare program, as bailouts.”

Others joined in. Brian Thalmann, president of the Minnesota Corn Growers Association, complained about Trump statements that farmers are doing “great” again. “We are not starting to do great again,” he said. “We are starting to go down very quickly.” Joel Schreurs of the American Soybean Association warned American producers are in danger of long-term losses in market share in China, the world’s largest importer of soybeans.

August 7, 2019, 12:26 PM MDT

Read more: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-08-07/farm-discontent-bubbles-over-as-perdue-confronted-in-minnesota?srnd=politics-vp

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[BigmanPigman]

1. Did the subject of subsidies come up?

[Ilsa]

2. These stories and video need to

make main news outlets.

MSNBC spends too much time hammering only one story when these things need to be publicized. It's important for everyone to know that the farmers are turning on IQ45.

[left-of-center2012]

11. "MSNBC spends too much time hammering only one story"

I rarely watch cable news these days. Actually, almost never.

[Wellstone ruled]

3. Interesting comments

to say the least. What is really sick,these are the same folks who were hosts for China Grain Buyer groups over the years. This area of Southern Minnesota in past decades produced the Folks who went to China on their own dime to open the Chinese market for their very Grain Products. All these efforts were reported on by State wide and Local Media at the time. What a shame to see this happen. Having served many of these Rural Towns and Villages through the Decades,this is devastating to see all those efforts burned to the ground by a hand full of people who have set the Farm Economy on fire and are burning it down to the ground. Yes there will be survivors,but they to will get hurt when there equipment resale market dries up.

[BamaRefugee]

4. They'll all vote tRump again.

[pazzyanne]

5. I wouldn't bet on that!

[BamaRefugee]

7. We'll have to wait and see. tRump will send them mega-subsidies to buy their vote. We'll know

soon after election day.

[pazzyanne]

13. He hasn't paid the last subsidies that he promised them,

and most of those who have received checks are barely paid for the seed, not to mention the cost of planting. The only ones getting a fair shake are the corporate farmers, family farmers are hurting and losing their family farms at an alarming rate.

[Wellstone ruled]

6. There are a few Dems in that area.

Know the Fellow that is the Farmers Union Head. He has been a stalwart of trying to increase the DFL Party representation in the Farm Community. Propaganda from hate AM Radio as well as the lack of getting our noses ruffed up from time to time and getting involved and asking for their votes has created this situation.

[BamaRefugee]

8. Long Live Wellstone! Great nickname!

[Wellstone ruled]

9. Thanks.

It was a pleasure to know the Man and his family.

[MrsMatt]

16. I know Gary in a professional capacity.

He's a good guy - very supportive of the ag industry. Good to know that he's DFL leaning.

[Wellstone ruled]

17. Met this fellow via

our Niece whom introduced us at a Festival years ago near his Farm. Been away for Minny for 15+ years only to return during the Summers. Again he is doing his best to get the DFL message to fellow Farmers.

History will show,the Rural American Farmer will once again support the Marketing efforts of the Farmers Union and not the efforts of the Farm Bureau which is a for profit Corporation with zero return to those farmers whom drink their Kool-Aid.

[Hulk]

10. One ugly satanic ass hole....

This pig of a human being is getting uglier every day that passes.

[benld74]

12. Perdue is another con man

Worse Sec of USDA in over 30 years

I
Know
I
Work
There
That
Long

[the_sly_pig]

14. Out state Minnesota is all red....

Let them enjoy the fruits of their beliefs.

[EarthFirst]

15. They're so worried about the optics of their welfare program; they'll turn out for Trump again... nt

[Princetonian]

18. Dumbasses.