LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas Farm Bureau applauded Gov. Asa Hutchinson’s proclamation naming Monday as Agriculture Trade Awareness Day in Arkansas.

“One-third of the Arkansas agricultural economy is sold through the export market,” said Arkansas Farm Bureau President Randy Veach. “Gov. Hutchinson understands the significance of trade to our state’s largest industry, and we appreciate him bringing additional focus to this topic.

“In fact, he just addressed this critical subject during his comments to our members at our state convention in late November.”

The topic of trade is front and center as the Trump administration deals with renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement. Gov. Hutchinson has submitted letters to the president encouraging favorable positioning of agriculture during efforts to rewrite trade deals.

“Canada and Mexico are our largest trading partners,” Veach said. “These neighbors are vital to farmers and ranchers. We agree that some changes need to be made with NAFTA, but we are hesitant to disrupt the flow of U.S. farm products to our neighbors to the north and south.”

More than $1.8 billion in Arkansas agriculture exports went to either Canada or Mexico in 2016. That includes annual Arkansas NAFTA exports totaling nearly $167 million in poultry and eggs, over $127 million in meat products, and nearly $82 million in grain exports. Estimates show that more than 100,000 Arkansas jobs are supported by trade with NAFTA partners.

The full text of today’s proclamation follows:

WHEREAS: Arkansas farmers and ranchers help provide food and fiber for the world, fuel our economy, and lead global markets in output and productivity. The efficiency of modern agriculture has provided this country with surpluses and opportunities beyond imagination; and

WHEREAS: Agricultural exports are Arkansas's largest export category with more than $3.3 billion in exports including: soybeans and soybean products ($1 billion), rice and processed foods ($768 million), broilers ($344 million) and forest and paper products ($312 million); and

WHEREAS: The State of Arkansas is home to many businesses that have benefitted significantly from trade with Canada and Mexico, our state's #1 and #2 trading partners, seeing a 400% increase to overall exports to both Canada and Mexico; and

WHEREAS: Arkansas exports $1.4 billion in goods to Canada annually, and trade with Canada supports nearly 67,000 Arkansas jobs; and

WHEREAS: Exports from Arkansas to Mexico are growing 3.6 times faster than exports to any other country, seeing an incredible 700 percent increase in our exports to Mexico since NAFTA began; and

WHEREAS: Arkansas is one of the few states in the nation that enjoys a net trade surplus with both countries. Furthermore, our state benefits from significant foreign direct investment from Mexico and Canada, employing nearly 50,000 Arkansans and strengthening our timber, paper, and processed food industries; and

WHEREAS: Arkansas's thriving agriculture sector provides jobs across our state, not just for farmers and ranchers, but for scientists, processors, shippers, trucking and retailers;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, ASA HUTCHINSON, Governor of the State of Arkansas, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the laws of the State of Arkansas, do hereby proclaim December 11th, 2017 as AGRICULTURE TRADE AWARENESS DAY across the State, and I encourage all Arkansans to observe this day by recognizing the role that agriculture and cross-border commerce play in our lives, as well as their value as our country considers international trade agreements.

“Arkansas agriculture’s trade needs extend beyond successful steps with regard to NAFTA,” said Veach. “There are meaningful discussions surrounding the South Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (KORUS) that was first enacted in 2012, which made South Korea our fifth-largest agricultural export market. And the U.S. government needs to be more active in pursing bi-lateral trade agreements, those agreements between the U.S. and one other country. Those tend to be a bit easier to negotiate.

“We believe that Arkansas farmers and ranchers are among the most efficient and effective in the world, and we simply want the opportunity to sell our products in a manner that benefits our farmers and other countries.

“The most critical component of trade agreements with other countries isn’t the revenue it provides to U.S. farm markets. More important is the nutrition our agricultural products provide to the people of other countries.”

Arkansas Farm Bureau is a private advocacy organization of more than 190,000 families throughout the state working to improve farm and rural life.

For more information, contact:

Steve Eddington
(501) 228-1383
steve.eddington@arfb.com

or

Rob Anderson
(501) 228-1640
rob.anderson@arfb.com