Vilsack on China: 'They Need Us'

来源:Successful Farming

Although China has yet to fulfill its Phase One promises of mammoth purchases of U.S. farm exports, “the fact is, they need us,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack during a digital news conference. Adding that, with China back in the U.S. market, commodity prices are high enough that, “I’m not sure there’s necessarily a need for any trade-related assistance [to farmers] at this point.”

According to a report atSuccessful Farming, the mood in farm country is more sanguine, boosted by a commodity rally that started last summer.

Farmers are expected to expand corn and soybean plantings by 5% this spring from last year’s 173.9 million acres. The USDA forecasts China will regain its spot as the No. 1 customer for U.S. farm exports this year. It bought $850 million worth of American corn in the same week that ended with the acrimonious Alaska meeting.