Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine kicked off the annual Farm Science Review on Tuesday, stressing the importance of agriculture to Ohio’s economy and addressing the challen
Ohio is one of the nation’s top soybean producers along with several states in the Midwest, and Chinese exports have raised concerns for area farmers. When asked about the potential impact, DeWine acknowledged the seriousness of the issue.
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine kicked off the annual Farm Science Review on Tuesday, stressing the importance of agriculture to Ohio’s economy and addressing the challenges posed by disruptions in soybean exports to China. “Agriculture remains our No. 1 industry in the State of Ohio,” DeWine told ABC 6. “You drive across Ohio, you can see it. This time of year, the soybeans are coming off in some places. So it’s a great, great industry. And you know what this Farm Science Review really is all about: it’s the future.” "Soybean farmers are receiving a lower price already for the beans and paying a higher price on input than they have in quite a while," Ohio Soybean Association Executive Director Kirk Merritt said. "A very significant point is that farmers are going to need assistance. The last time we had the trade tension several years ago, the administration and Congress stepped up to financially assist farmers, and I think that is going to be another important factor that is going to come up. The lack of Chinese demand will most definitely impact the price that farmers receive." Anybody that sells soybeans is going to be impacted by tariffs,” he said. “Some states sell a bigger percentage of their soybeans to China, but anybody is going to be impacted if they grow soybeans. We’re a huge soybean producer in the State of Ohio. "We could be OK, but in certain parts of the state, this could be a really challenging next few years, but I hate to pretend I have a crystal ball," Merritt said. "We need more demand because we have the ability to meet all of the domestic markets." A slowdown in exports could lead to decreased profits for farmers, reduced freight demand, and potential job losses, according to the Ohio Soybean Association. Economists warn that Midwest states, where soybeans are a prime crop, may be hit hardest. Beyond trade, DeWine also spoke about the importance of balancing farmland preservation with the state’s ongoing push for economic growth and industrial development. We’ve got to be careful about how we do this," the governor said. "It's the opportunity for people, frankly, to be able to stay on their farm, continue to farm, but get some money out of that and that property will always remain a farm. That is one thing we frankly need to do more of in the state.
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