Trade uncertainty, low commodity prices continue to weigh on farmers

<p>Dr. Joe Outlaw, Ag Forum secretary, director of the Agricultural and Food Policy Center at Texas A&amp;M University and Texas A&amp;M AgriLife Extension Service economist, provides remarks at the 2019 Ag Forum in Austin.</p>

<p>“Attendees at this year’s Ag Forum are really interested in the sensitivities of commodity prices to changes in exports, both short and long-term views on trade and outlook for U.S. meats, grains and fibers,” said Outlaw.</p>

<p>Marc Raulston of the Texas A&amp;M Agricultural and Food Policy Center at Texas A&amp;M University in College Station, left, and Matt Huie, farmer and rancher, Beeville.</p>

<p>U.S. Department of Agriculture-Farm Service Agency executive officer Eddie Trevino, Texas A&amp;M AgriLife Assistant Vice Chancellor for Federal Relations Dr. Ron Lacewell, Dr. James Richardson, retired co-director of the Agricultural and Food Policy Center at Texas A&amp;M, and USDA-Texas Farm Service Agency Executive Director Gary Six at the Ag Forum in Austin.</p>

<p>At the 2019 Ag Forum reception was Dr. Joe Outlaw, Texas Ag Forum secretary and Texas A&amp;M AgriLife Extension Service economist, Dr. Patrick Stover, vice chancellor and dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Texas A&amp;M University and director of Texas A&amp;M AgriLife Research, and Dr. Denise Stover, associate research scientist in nutrition and food science, Texas A&amp;M AgriLife Research.</p>

<p>U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kansas, and Tom Sell of Combest, Sell and Associates at the 2019 Ag Forum in Austin.</p>

<p>“If you care about rural America, you want farmers and ranchers to perform better in the businesses they support,” Moran said. “I support farmers and ranchers because they determine whether or not my community has a future. Agriculture is one of few places left that sons and daughters work side by side with their moms and dads.”</p>

<p>Regarding trade and exports, Moran said, “if we are not exporting, we are not living.”</p>

<p>Dr. Patrick Stover, vice chancellor and dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Texas A&amp;M University and director of Texas A&amp;M AgriLife Research, visits with Ken Davis of Texas Wheat at a reception held during the Ag Forum in Austin.</p>

<p>Dr. Joe Outlaw, director of the Agricultural and Food Policy Center at Texas A&amp;M University and Ag Forum secretary, visits with Brent Batchelor, Danny Nusser and Robert Pritz all with the Texas A&amp;M AgriLife Extension Service, at the Ag Forum in Austin. This year’s event was themed, Agricultural Policy and Trade in 2019 and Beyond.</p>

<p>Dr. Pat Westhoff, Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute director at the University of Missouri.</p>

<p>“There’s a layer of uncertainty that’s very real,” said Westhoff. “There are more issues with late payments, more borrowing of money other than for operating expenses. It’s not the 1980s,but things are not going in the right direction. Things are not going to come crashing down tomorrow, but it’s not getting any better either.”</p>

<p>Dr. James Richardson, left, and Steve Verett, Plains Cotton Growers Inc.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Richardson, who recently retired as co-director of the Agricultural and Food Policy Center at Texas A&amp;M, was honored at the Texas Ag Forum. Among Richardson’s innovations included FLIPSIM, or Farm Level Income Policy Simulator.</p>

<p>Bart Fisher, deputy staff director/chief economist for the House Committee on Agriculture, right, presents Dr. James Richardson, left, an American flag in recognition of Richardson’s career with Agricultural and Food Policy Center and analyzing farm bill proposals.</p>