When it comes to farms in America being economically viable, rising costs of labour and inputs, along with droughts, have led to large financial loans, with some ending in liquidation.
That’s why international trade is so important, according to Ted McKinney, CEO of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture.
“Generally speaking, US farms and farmers are in some distress. The help coming from the US government, these payments are going to help, but it’s not going to let them get ahead; it will just keep them solvent and keep them at equilibrium.
"So we have got to get markets working for us again, for us to grow as our farmers,” says McKinney.
“We have to have those international markets, and that’s what President Trump is trying to fix with some of his tariffs. Now it’s not easily understood, and it's going to be difficult, but over time, we are finding some opening of markets, and we are grateful that the EU is saying yes to a deal.”
Irish products
In terms of what the biggest opportunities for Irish products are in American markets, Ted admits that "your dairy is doing pretty well", especially Irish butter.
“As you all innovate more, your experience in robotics, you too have labour issues, whether it is a dairy farm or something else. I just think putting those great Irish minds to work on innovation of all types will be good,” McKinney concludes.
The final day of the international trip to Washington, DC, concluded with a tour of the White House, followed by a visit to a large dairy farm in New Windsor where Matthew Hoff is a fifth-generation farmer with 1,300 Holstein cows.
SHARING OPTIONS