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Farmers for Free Trade hits the road in support of the USMCA

Farmers for Free Trade will soon embark on an 11 state RV Tour across the Midwest in support of the U.S. Mexico Canada Agreement.

The “Motorcade for Trade” kicks off Friday in Pennsylvania and will wrap up April 26 in Montana.

Angela Marshall Hoffman, co-director of Farmers for Free Trade, says the tour will highlight the American farmer’s reliance on trade with Canada and Mexico.

“The purpose is to really drive attention to what has been traditionally a very important relationship for our farmers and ranchers with Canada and Mexico,” she says. “The timing couldn’t be any more important too because we’re really looking to have some stability and continue to grow that relationship with our trader partners.”

She tells Brownfield it’s important that the three countries ratify the agreement as soon as possible.

“A deal is not done until it’s been ratified by our congress and right now we need all hands on deck to ensure that’s going to happen,” she says. “Trade is not a political issue- it’s a bilateral, economic, and community issue, so we need members from both sides of the aisle coming together to support the ag community.”

Hoffman says it’s also an opportunity to share the stories of farmers.

“We’re going to be stopping at farms of people we know who have come to us and said they support trade and want to share their story,” she says. “We’re excited to highlight those individuals and those communities across the country.”

The RV will also be stopping in Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, and North Dakota.

The tour will take place during the two-week April Congressional recess with stops at family farms, ag equipment dealers, small businesses, coffee shops and more.

 Hoffman says they are planning to have more tours in the future.

Audio: Angela Marshall Hoffman, Farmers for Free Trade