SD Farmers Union President Responds to United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement

HURON, S.D. – When the news of the new trade deal with Canada and Mexico reached Doug Sombke, President of South Dakota Farmers Union, he was both relieved and saddened.

 “I am happy it is wrapped up, but disappointed there is nothing in the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement for family farmers and ranchers. We were expecting, after the President’s campaign promise that he would reinstate Country of Origin Labeling (COOL), that this would be done during the renegotiation of NAFTA, and I was surprised it was not even addressed,” said Sombke, a fourth-generation Conde crop and cattle producer.

 “It didn’t change any benefits we already had in the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), nor did it add anything. The fact is, wheat farmers in North Dakota and Montana are still only able to market feed-grade wheat to Canada. This trade agreement does not allow farmers to market food-grade, higher value, wheat.”

 And, at a time when South Dakota’s family farmers are really hurting, Sombke says the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement does not offer any relief to the low commodity prices, gravely impacted by the current trade war with China.

Doug Sombke is the President of South Dakota Farmers Union and a fourth-generation Conde farmer.