In the sea of not great news, Wisconsin farmers could see a boost after President Donald
Trump met with China this week. As a result of the talks, China promised to restart buying
U.S. soybeans after halting such purchases in May. Wisconsin farmers, way laid by trade
disputes, could at least see a better market for soybeans. But they're still facing trade
trouble for beef, rising costs, and for the many farmers who are small business owners
depend on affordable care act health plans, hikes, and premiums. We pick up now with
Brad Olson, President of the Wisconsin Farm Bureau. Thanks a lot for being here.
Thank you for having me. So all told, what kind of headwinds are Wisconsin farmers facing
right now? Well, just increasing costs, fertilizer, feed, all of those are increasing at a time
when other than the price of fat cattle, everything is down. Corner down, beans have
been down. Milk is not good. So lots of headwinds out there. On the other hand, farmers have
faced this in the past and are resilient. Are the input costs for things like fertilizer
and feed having to do with trade? Not so much. Certainly a little bit. I mean, if you, you
know, from the potash side of things, 80% of our potash comes from Canada. So we certainly
want good stable trade with Canada on that side to keep the potash prices normal.
How welcome is the news that China will start buying soybeans again?
Well, extremely welcome. I mean, a big deal, not just in Wisconsin, but across the nation
to get China back. You know, maybe not this year, but the next two years of buying what
they have in the past is exceptional good news for soybean farmers and all farmers
across the nation. It isn't expected that China will buy enough to kind of offset that
country not buying since May. Well, they're going to buy roughly 12 million metric tons
this year, which isn't going to make up the whole difference. But at the end of May, it's
going to make a big difference. And moving forward to 26 and 27 with that promise to
buy back to the, you know, the same level that they had been is certainly going to help
agriculture out in the long run here. What about beef producers in Wisconsin with President
Trump's plan to quadruple imports from Argentina? Is that a significant impact in this state?
I guess time will tell, you know, certainly it's the first time that beef producers have
been profitable in a number of years. So we're certainly concerned and keeping an eye on
that on a regular, very regular basis. As to this government shutdown and the fight over
Affordable Care Act enhanced premiums or enhanced tax credits, how dependent are Wisconsin
farmers on kind of marketplace plans? Somewhat. Fortunately, Wisconsin Farm Bureau is again
this year going to try and get the Tennessee Health Plan passed here in Wisconsin, which
would help farmers considerably that are in that in between. Maybe don't are not eligible
for the Affordable Health Health Care Act. But at the same point, can't afford regular
health care from, you know, companies across the state or the nation. So again, we're working
on trying to find that middle ground where we can we can help members out.
And what does that health plan offered by the Farm Bureau do? I mean, what what is that
plan? It's just a health plan that not necessarily insurance, but a plan that is typically like
I say, it isn't for people who necessarily on the Affordable Health Care, but also people
who cannot necessarily afford it. It finds them, them people that are in between, right?
And so that would require legislation from the state? It would require legislation from
the state and being signed by the governor. 14 other states are on the nation habit. And
what are those prospects for that happening? A little better in 5050, I think. Well, those
aren't bad odds, really. But no, no, on another kind of hot topic, the 2025 Farm Bill, the
largest piece of which is SNAP, which we're all talking about right now. How is work on
that progressing? Well, there again, we need not not just for SNAP benefits, but everybody
across the nation, farmers, everyone in day to day businesses, we need to get federal government
back up and going again. You know, you go to the airport, the TSA people aren't necessarily
being paid. We need those people to be paid. And hopefully here, hopefully this week, we'll
see some movement and get the government open again and get those people paid as well as
get the recipients of federal programs taken care of. You know, another issue that has
been discussed a lot in the ag world is labor and labor shortages. Is that something that
Wisconsin farmers are increasingly struggling with? Yeah, I think so. You know, it's agriculture
is a labor dependent business. And so it has always been that. And we've just, you know,
rural America, rural Wisconsin is shrinking. So we don't have those neighbors and those
other farm kids to necessarily fill those jobs. We leave it there, Brad Olson. Thanks
very much for your time. Thank you very much.
Thank you. All right. Thank you.
You too. Have a good day. Bye.