With the recent passage of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada-Agreement (USMCA), farmers are breathing a sigh of relief to have increased markets open back up.

Greene County Farm Bureau Board President James Holz gives his reaction about the new trade agreement for all three countries.

“As a farmer who is raising livestock here in the state of Iowa and in Greene County, we’re excited that we finalized the agreement. Now there’s an agreement in place and we can all move forward and not the market volatility of not knowing if there’s going to be an agreement or not have an agreement. We’re just really excited to move forward now that we have a trade agreement.”

Holz adds farmers were frustrated that there wasn’t an agreement for so long, but now they are beginning to have more hope. He reminds everyone that within Iowa, one in three acres of crop production are exported, with most going to Canada and Mexico, and one in four pigs are also exported.