LUXEMBURG, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — The agriculture industry in Wisconsin is keeping its eye on Capitol Hill… especially after the passage of a new trade agreement between the U.S., Mexico and Canada.
The USMCA was signed into law on Wednesday. David Jauqet owns a dairy farm in Luxemburg.
“We’re pointing in the right direction with a lot of our exports and opening markets for us,” said local dairy farmer David Jauqet.
He’s been following President Trump’s trade talks for some time.
Even though the bipartisan trade agreement has passed, Jauquet still has questions.
If it gives us more stability long-term for our long term business planning and how we are going to structure our business going forward, it will certainly help that way.
Those long-term plans include adjusting to more markets for dairy farmers to sell to, one of the highlights of the new trade agreement.
While a soggy season and unprecedented weather made for some inconsistencies for Wisconsin farmers, the passing of the USMCA could mean more stability over time.
“Most of Wisconsin milk goes into class three which is cheese,” Aerica Bjurstrom told FOX 11.
She is a Kewaunee County Agricultural agent.
When talking trade she points to the elimination of two of Canada’s milk classes.
What it could mean for Wisconsin?
“As long as there are fewer classes and fewer markets to spread that milk out to there’s more cheese being made and then they can move that,” Bjurstrom explained. “It’s a lot more of a product that they can move to different countries and ship across the seas.”
So while farmers like Jauquet keep their eyes on Capitol Hill only time will tell what the USMCA does for our dairy state.
According to an analysis by the U-S International Trade Commission, full implementation of the USMCA would increase the country’s agricultural exports to the world by 2 – point- 2 billion dollars
