At the National Association of Farm Broadcasters Convention, Farm Director KC Sheperd visited with U.S. Wheat Associates’ former Past Chairman Darren Padget about the export conditions expected under the new Trump administration.
Padget hopes for less regulatory pressure. “If you were in the natural resources business, it seems like you have had a target on your back for the last few years,” he said. “I’m hoping to put that somewhere else for a while.”
Ninety percent of Padget’s crop is exported. “We are very sensitive to tariff talks, the strength of the dollar, and all things pertaining to trade,” he said. “During Trump’s first term, when they started saying tariffs, I bristled. I still do a little bit, but I also realize that is the only economic stick that we can really swing and bring people into line. It seems to work, so I am cautiously optimistic.”
About the pending farm bill, he said that he, personally, would like to see it drafted and approved by the incoming administration. “I think we might find a more friendly ag bill for the farmers without maybe so many green restrictions,” he said. “I wish they would just extend it a year. It could be a lot worse than it is right now. Let’s just get through it and see what our people come up with. We have the House, the Senate, and the Presidency, so maybe we can put something together that’ll work.”
The status of crop insurance is the biggest piece of the farm bill to Padget, seconded by trade policies.
