Posted: 10.13.2011

Both chambers in Washington, D.C., found common ground on Wednesday to pass three Free Trade Agreements(FTA) - all of which mean more business potential for Wisconsin agriculture.

The FTA's build new relationships with Panama, Colombia and Korea.  In Wisconsin it may also mean building new opportunities for Wisconsin agriculture.  Karen Gefvert, WI Farm Bureau Federation's Director of Governmental Relations,says the FTA's have been floating around Washington for about the last five years.  Even with actions in the House and Senate - the president ultimately made adjustments that had to be accounted for.

"It's a big deal that these trade agreements passed through Congress today,"  Gefvert said, "Other countries are signing their own bilaterial trade agreements with other countries that we trade with - and their products become more attractive then ours do."  Gefvert says that every day these agreements were not signed ultimately cost U.S. agriculture money.

What about here in Wisconsin - any benefit to our growers?  Gefvert says yes.  " Wisconsin agriculture will really benefit!"  she says. "The  commodity areas that will see the largest increase in demand for Wisconsin will be the beef industry, dairy and the processed food groups."  Gefvert says corn, soybeans, pork and other livestock, as well as fruit should see a pick up in their business too.

"This really is just the start of our opportunities for trade,"  Gefvert says.  "There's a global market place that's waiting for Wisconsin products and we're ready to meet that demand.

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