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Conner: the political environment is impacting the ag industry

The president and CEO of the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives says the current political climate is negatively impacting the ag industry.

Chuck Conner describes the current political environment as toxic.

“Congress is really struggling just to do the basics, which I describe as keeping the doors of government open,” he says. “We’re currently on a pathway where we could potentially see another government-wide shutdown. This is not how people want to see their government function and change has to happen here.”

He tells Brownfield he is optimistic the U.S. Mexico Canada Agreement will be ratified fairy soon, which he says will be a win for agriculture.

“One thousand agricultural groups have gone on record as saying they want the USMCA and I just don’t see Congress denying something that has that much support,” he says. “That will be some good news on trade that we desperately need in this market.”

Conner says the trade dispute with China also needs to be sorted out.

“The world trading system cannot sustain the practices that China has been allowed to engage in over the past decades,” he says.

He says its especially important after the difficult 2019 planting season.

Conner spoke to Brownfield at the Ceres Solutions 2019 Knowledge Event in Perrysville.

Audio: Chuck Conner, National Council of Farmer Cooperatives