South Dakota U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson announces launch of bipartisan Agricultural Trade Caucus

On Wednesday, January 31, U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-SD), Adrian Smith (R-NE), Jim Costa (D-CA), and Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), announced the launch of a bipartisan Congressional Agricultural Trade Caucus. The goal of the caucus is to advance and promote policies critical to the agriculture industry in the United States.

The caucus's primary objectives include boosting international exports of agricultural products, facilitating food and agricultural trade, and removing unnecessary trade barriers. Johnson emphasized that the caucus is designed not only to benefit South Dakota's farmers and ranchers but the entire state.

"Our caucus is just an opportunity to say, 'Listen, $5 billion of South Dakota exports, that's $5,500 per South Dakotan every year.' We want to make sure that the world's got an opportunity to buy the very best food that we grow right here in South Dakota," said Johnson.

Since the caucus is a bipartisan, Johnson stresses the importance of having both parties come together to make sure the Biden Administration is getting the U.S. access to the oversees markets.

"People will pay top dollar for top-quality American soybeans, beef, corn, dairy. And the fact that we've had the Biden administration that has not been aggressive enough in opening up those marketplaces for American farmers and ranchers, is what has got us pretty gosh darn irritated," said Johnson.

The United States currently exports approximately $180 billion worth of food annually, and the caucus aims to increase this amount through potential policies that promote and facilitate agricultural trade. By bringing together representatives from both sides of the aisle, the caucus seeks to address challenges and create opportunities for American farmers, ranchers, producers, rural communities, and the food/agriculture industry in the global marketplace.