From Monopoly to Trade: Lawmakers heard farmers’ major concerns for this year

Ag lawmakers this year are looking for ways to increase market access for U.S. farmers and ranchers. It was a big topic at a recent Senate Ag Committee hearing.

Senator Roger Marshall (R-KS) was there and said farmers shared some big concerns.

“One of the speakers talked about how farmers sell to a monopoly, that there are three or four places you can sell,” Sen. Marshall explains. “So what can we do to expand farmers, and the different markets that they can reach? Then, of course, we got to talk about trade, and certainly, we’re grateful for the past trade agreements President Trump got done. USMCA, South Korea, and Japan seem like I’m missing one or two of them. Joe Biden didn’t do any new trade. So, for four years, we’ve been idle, and we’re looking forward to President Trump hopping back in there and doing some strong bilateral trading agreements.”

Trade will be a big topic in the coming weeks. Tariffs with Canada and Mexico are on hold for one month as the two countries work out details. So far, both countries have made concessions to keep the extra duties at bay.

Related Stories
Here are the top agriculture news headlines from RFD-TV News today (Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025) and the top trending stories on RFD-TV News.
RFD-TV Ag Law & Tax Expert Roger McEowen outlines the top ten agricultural law and taxation topics from 2024 that will impact farmers and ranchers the most in 2025.
“This is one way that cattle producers can make sure they have a serious voice in promoting and defending their own product in the marketplace...”
“There is a lot of financial uncertainty on the farms right now.”
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced her five-point comprehensive strategy to fight High-Path Avian Flu (HPAI) on Wednesday in an op-ed published in the Wall Street Journal.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

President Trump is expected to press Argentina to take a tougher stance on China in exchange for political and economic support.
Tammi Arender takes us to 3 Board Farm to meet some first-generation farmers who took a leap of faith and, in the process, found a new purpose.
Nick Andersen, Nationwide’s VP of Agribusiness Claims, shares tips for managing weather-related risks in agriculture using their new Hail and Wind Alert Program.
Lewie Pugh, EVP of OOIDA, discusses how lowering the age for commercial driver’s licenses (CDL) to 18 could rejuvenate the trucking labor market.
Founder Venessa Wood joins us now for a sneak peek of Ag Women Connect’s upcoming Red, White & Blue Gala.
“Good flies? Is that like a good fire ant?” Miller said. “I don’t know what a good fly is. I don’t know if they’re afraid to kill house flies or stable flies, but I’m ready to kill the screwworm fly.”