Pictured: Iowa Secretary of Agriculture, Mike Naig (left) visits with staff at NEW Cooperative’s Glidden branch
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture, Mike Naig, visited the NEW Cooperative branch in Glidden today (Monday) to speak with staff about issues facing agriculture. Worries about looming trade tariffs with China have many in the industry wondering about reductions in profitability. Naig says his staff has been working with the Trump administration to make sure they understand how these choices impact Iowa farmers.
Naig says reaching a favorable trade agreement with China is a top priority for Iowa ag. He adds markets continue to emerge, despite the trade tensions. Just last week, Argentina announced it would allow pork imports from the United States for the first time in almost three decades.
Naig says job opportunities also remain strong in Iowa’s ag industry. Technology now plays a critical role for producers, and many potential employees are not aware how much demand exists for them in agribusiness.
Naig was appointed Iowa Secretary of Agriculture in March after the former secretary, Bill Northey, was confirmed as the USDA Undersecretary of Agriculture for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services. Naig is part of a crowded field of candidates vying for the job in the 2018 midterm elections that includes Ray Gaesser, Tim Gannon, Chad Ingels, Dan Zumbach and Craig Lang.
