American farmers are increasingly reliant on Canada and Mexico as export markets as trade disputes, weak commodity prices and rising costs strain the agricultural economy, according to Bloomberg.
Iowa farmer Stu Swanson said many producers are operating on dwindling hope as financial pressures mount. CoBank CEO Tom Halverson said trade deals helped US exports to Canada and Mexico grow roughly 600% since NAFTA’s creation. As negotiations begin, farmers are focused less on expanding the agreement than on preserving certainty and avoiding new disruptions.