The president of the National Farmers Union says the Trump administration’s recent taxpayer-funded bailout of Argentina is sending mixed signals to farmers and ranchers.
Rob Larew tells Brownfield, “The fact that during a government shutdown we can give $20 billion to Argentina, and we just learned that they have now doubled that, but that farm assistance for American family farmers can’t happen because of the shutdown?” He says, “That’s just really hard for us to fully understand.”
He says Argentina’s recent sale of millions of tons of soybeans to China makes the move even more confusing.
“Meanwhile, we continue to be shut out completely in China, and now we’re doubling down, and yet we’re left wondering what about the needs in rural America right now?” he says.
Larew says lawmakers need to work together to end the government shutdown and come up with a creative package to help farmers and the struggling rural economy.
NFU sent a letter last week to the administration and Congressional leaders urging immediate action to provide economic relief for family farmers and ranchers facing worsening financial conditions, emphasizing that aid should reach family farm operations that need it most.
