together, because our world of hurt right now. We
need to move it forward. >> In a 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 waylaid 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, as small business owners,
depend on Affordable Care Act health plans, hikes in
premiums. We pick up now with Brad Olson, president
of the Wisconsin Farm Bureau. And 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 when other than the price of fat
cattle, everything is is down, corner down, beans
have been down. Milk is not good. So lots of 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
potash comes from, from Canada. So we certainly
want good stable trade with Canada on that side to keep
potash prices normal. Normal.
>> How welcome is the news that China will start
buying soybeans again. >> Oh 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.
>> Is it expected that China will buy enough to
kind of offset that country not buying since May?
>> Well, they're going to buy roughly, you know, 12
million metric tons this year, which isn't going to
make up the difference. But at the end of the day, 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 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 that are in that in-between
maybe don't are not eligible for the Affordable
Health Care Act, but at the same point, can't afford
regular health care from, you know, companies across
the state of the nation. So again, we're working on
trying to to find that middle ground where we can
where we can help members out.
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,
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 around the nation have it.
>> And what are those prospects for that
happening? >> A little better than
5050, I think. >> Well, those aren't bad
odds, really. But no, no. 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
the 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 recipients
of federal programs taken care of.
that has been discussed a labor and labor shortages.
Is that something that Wisconsin farmers are
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 those neighbors and those other
farm kids to to necessarily fill those jobs.