SDDP Chair and family farmer Merrill: How will politics, a stalled farm bill & tariffs impact the American farmer?
One of the latest questions so many have asked me over the past few months is my opinion on the tariffs and the farm bill and how it will impact the American farmer. As is often the case in today’s political environment, once a question is asked, a raging discussion ensues without any real details emerging. The “I’m right-you’re wrong” attitude.
In my short political life, I have always tried to take the opinions of both sides and look to the facts. Which makes me seriously question if tariffs on our greatest trading partners for agriculture exports will have positive effects for those of us in ag production.
The United States originally started exporting grain during World War I, and has seen steady growth in exporting (along with growth in production) over the last 100 years. It is my honest belief if we begin a trade war, we may see extremely tough times in rural America. It’s no secret that commodity prices are down while inputs are up. In recent weeks it seems a bit more stable, but will it be enough, or will the USDA have to intervene as they did in the late 2010s?
A great friend of mine who had a front-row seat to the USDA for over 40 years likes to point out an unpopular opinion, and that is farmers have done better with a Democrat in the White House, and like it or not he is right (we all remember $7 per bushel corn).
I know there are many readers who won’t agree, but since the 1930s this largely holds true. This is one of the reasons South Dakota Democrats saw success in U.S. Senate races and congressional races. George McGovern, Tom Daschle, Tim Johnson and Stephanie Herseth Sandlin all ran on and represented South Dakota family farmers and helped to protect and expand our livelihood and should be commended. They supported Food for Peace, ethanol, biofuels, COOL and strong trade to keep our products moving.
They also supported numerous farm bills. The most current version has been stalled in Congress for over a year, with the 2018 bill still in place.
My point is this — bipartisanship shouldn’t be a bad thing. Some of the best ideas come from the middle with both sides moving to compromise to get things done (something that today seems like a thing of the past). I encourage you all to contact our elected leaders and urge them to reconsider tariffs and move forward on a current farm bill that supports South Dakota and American farmers.
Shane Merrill of Parker is a family farmer and the chair of the South Dakota Democratic Party.
Photo: public domain, wikimedia commons
