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Minnesota farmer frustrated by trade twists

Farmers are frustrated by the constant twists and turns on the trade front.

Bob Roelofs, who grows corn, soybeans, and contract grows hogs in south-central Minnesota, says the impeachment process is getting in the way of ratifying the U.S. Mexico Canada Agreement.

“I feel there’s no reason why (House Speaker) Pelosi hasn’t brought (USMCA) to the floor for a vote. It should be done as fast as possible. Rural farm country is struggling quite heavily right now, I think everyone knows that. And it gets really frustrating watching our politicians play like this.”

The Minnesota Farm Bureau district director tells Brownfield he’s also put off by the hot and cold negotiations between the U.S. and China.

“You see things over the last year where all of a sudden (it looks like) we’re getting close to something, and I think it’s all just political play because all of a sudden it breaks down again. Then it chirps back up a couple months later (and) now the trade doesn’t even bat an eye anymore because what do you believe anymore? They talk about something and we don’t see anything moving.”

Roelofs says he’s very concerned about election year politics paralyzing negotiations if these trade deals aren’t finalized before the end of the year.

Brownfield spoke to the Blue Earth County crop and livestock producer Friday during Minnesota Farm Bureau’s 101st Annual Meeting.

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