News

Two South Dakota farmers to witness the U.S. China phase one signing

South Dakota Soybean Executive Director Jerry Schmitz says it’ll be exciting to see President Trump and Chinese officials get together to sign the phase one trade deal between the two countries. Schmitz, invited to the signing by South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, will witness Wednesday morning’s White House signing. Representing South Dakota’s soybean farmers, Schmitz is especially anxious to find out specifics of the agreement.

“Soybean farmers were probably the top of list in terms of benefits,” Schmitz told Brownfield Ag News Tuesday.

The White House has said the agreement provides for China to buy billions of dollars’ worth of U.S. ag products, but Schmitz says time will tell what the result will be.

“It’s been a question the entire time,” said Schmitz. “We wondered from day one what the end goal might be, and really if it comes off as we’re being told, I think it’s much better than anything we had anticipated.”

South Dakota pork producer Craig Andersen of Centerville is also invited to the signing.