President Donald Trump addressed the American Farm Bureau Federation on January 8 at the organization’s Annual Convention in Nashville, Tennessee. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue introduced the president.
President Trump praised the American farmer saying “the men and women in this room come from different backgrounds and from all across our land, but each of you carries the same title that has been proudly borne by patriots and pioneers, inventors, and entrepreneurs, the title of American Farmer.” “You embody the values of hard work, grit, self-reliance, and sheer determination,” the President said.
In his remarks, President Trump touched upon the tax bill; the rollback of burdensome regulations; trade agreements; the Farm Bill; bringing prosperity to struggling rural communities, expanding access to broadband internet in rural America, the opioid epidemic, as well as rebuilding infrastructure.
“For years, many of you have endured burdensome fines, inspections, paperwork, and relentless intrusion from an army of regulators at the EPA, the FDA, and countless other agencies. That’s why I’m truly proud to report that within our first 11 months, my administration has cancelled or delayed over 1,500 planned regulatory actions or assaults,” President Trump said.
He also discussed that the administration is in the process of rolling back the “terrible” Waters of the United States rule. “We are streamlining regulations that have blocked cutting edge biotechnology, setting free our farmers to innovate, thrive, and to grow. We are removing harmful restrictions on forestry so you can log more timber, plant more trees, and export more renewable resources to other countries,” the President said.
“To level the playing field for our great American exporters–our farmers and ranchers, as well as our manufacturers–we are reviewing all of our trade agreements to make sure they are fair and reciprocal,” Trump said. “On NAFTA, I am working very hard to get a better deal for our country and for our farmers and for our manufacturers. When Mexico is making all of that money, when Canada is making all that money, it is not the easiest negotiations. But we’re going to make it fair for you people again.”
The President also remarked that he is looking forward to working with Congress to pass the Farm Bill on time.
Also at the Farm Bureau convention, delegates unanimously re-elected AFBF President Zippy Duvall. Delegates also approved measures to help assure a prosperous agricultural and rural economy in the coming year and beyond. Resolutions approved by farmer and rancher delegates from across the nation ran the gamut of issues, from trade to regulatory reform, crop insurance, biotechnology and more.
