Fruit growers want trade partners to work tariffs out themselves, not tax their crops

Fruit growers say they have a lot to lose in a trade war. While there appears to be more clarity on the situation, cherry growers hope agriculture does not get caught in the middle.

“You know, our hope is that, so to speak, we get responses from between the United States and Mexico where, if there is going to be some type of trade war, that it’s more about specific products,” said BJ Thurlby, president of the Northeast Cherry Growers Association. “If it’s chips for computers, let’s keep it in the technology world and not turn around and tax apples. You know, that would be a perfect world for us, where we see like industries, if they have issues, let’s let them work it out.”

Thurlby tells aginfo.net that Mexico is an important market for apples, with tens of millions of boxes exported there each year.

Related Stories
Researchers with the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture are studying the clouded plant bug, which causes millions of dollars in damage to crops such as corn, soybeans, and cotton growing across the state.
Farm Bureau Economist Dr. Faith Parum warns farmers to brace for more losses as the war in Iran sends shockwaves through the ag economy and raises input costs even further.
Margin pressure and competitiveness concerns are shaping cautious outlooks.
Leadership closer to western forests may speed decisions impacting timber, land use, and wildfire management.
Fewer DEF-related shutdowns could mean more uptime during planting and harvest seasons.
Widespread drought and extreme weather leave producers managing limited resources

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

The Arkansas Farm Bureau offers a ‘Beef in the Classroom’ grant to assist with ag education. Applications for that program open in August.
Seth Boffeli, AARP Fraud Watch Network Senior Advisor, brings us a preview of tonight’s “RURAL AMERICA LIVE with AARP,” which will focus on tips for fighting fraud.
A group of 32 Democratic senators is urging ag lawmakers to halt their opposition to Prop 12 in the next Farm Bill.
In honor of Rural Road Safety Week, we’re highlighting some commonly overlooked hazards on rural roads, where 40 percent of all fatal crashes in the United States occur.
The network includes labs across the country that track diseases like New World Screwworm, which could see a rise in cases with hurricane season approaching.
Sen. Roger Marshall (R-KS) hosted the talks. The senator and doctor joined us on Wednesday on RFD-TV’s Market Day Report to recap the critical discussions surrounding human health in America.
Agriculture Shows
Special 3-part series tells the story of the Claas family’s legacy, which changed agriculture forever.
From soil to harvest. Top Crop is an all-new series about four of the best farmers in the world—Dan Luepkes, of Oregan, Illinois; Cory Atley, of Cedarville, Ohio; Shelby Fite, of Jackson Center, Ohio; Russell Hedrick, of Hickory, North Carolina—reveals what it takes for them to make a profitable crop. It all starts with good soil, patience, and a strong planter setup.
Champions of Rural America is a half-hour dive into the legislative priorities for Rural America. Join us as we interview members of the Congressional Western Caucus to learn about efforts in Washington to preserve agriculture and tackles the most important topics in the ag industry on Champions of Rural America!
Farm Traveler is for people who want to connect with their food and those who grow it. Thanks to direct-to-consumer businesses, agritourism, and social media, it’s now easier than ever to learn how our food is made and support local farmers. Here on the Farm Traveler, we want to connect you with businesses offering direct-to-consumer products you can try at home, agritourism sites you can visit with your family, and exciting new technologies that are changing how your food is being grown.