Ag Minister MacAulay delivers keynote address to U.S. farmers

Jan 08, 2018

MacAulay’s address was the first by a Canadian agriculture minister at the American Farm Bureau’s annual meeting

By Diego Flammini
News Reporter
Farms.com

Canada’s agriculture minister voiced support for the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) to a room full of farmers in Nashville, Tenn. yesterday.

Speaking to an audience of about 5,000 people at the 99^th American Farm Bureau Annual Convention, Minister Lawrence MacAulay reaffirmed Canada’s goals in the tri-lateral trade discussions with Mexico and the United States.

“The Government of Canada is committed to working with the United States to strengthen our relationship and promote NAFTA,” he told reporters during a conference call today. “I reminded our American friends of how vital our trade partnership is for both of our economies.

Lawrence Maculay addressed the American Farm Bureau Federation's Annual Convention
Photo: Jordan Buie/The Tennessean

“Canada is the largest trading partner for 29 states … In total, our nations traded over $60 billion in agriculture and food products last year.”

The U.S. has targeted Canada’s supply management system in NAFTA talks. Several American farm groups and President Trump have called supply management unfair and protectionist.

But Canada will not budge on the matter, especially as other countries struggle with an oversupply of dairy products.

“Why would (Canada) dismantle a system that’s so efficient?” MacAulay said. “There’s other countries including (the United States) that have some difficulties in the dairy industry in particular. All countries have certain things they wish to protect.”

President Trump to speak later today

President Donald Trump will address the ag community this afternoon at the Annual Convention.

Some political analysts have said rural America helped President Trump win the 2016 election, but his policies haven’t reflected his commitment to rural communities.

But the fact that a sitting President is attending the convention should give farmers a vote of confidence, MacAulay said.

“He’s speaking to an audience that is fully committed to NAFTA and that understands the value of trade,” he said. “I think it’s a great thing that he’s coming here and I hope it’s nothing but productive.”

Farms.com will provide coverage following President Trump’s address.

Video: Air Command Section Control for Pro-Force Spreaders

This patented section control system uses air to divert material on to different areas of the spinner disks for precise 4-section control, for an economical design by eliminating the need for added conveyor belts or movable spreader components. The section control uses the Raven RCM ISOBUS controller and a customer’s field boundary and coverage map to automatically turn off any of the four sections at any time to avoid applying valuable fertilizer in areas where it’s not needed.

This results in fertilizer savings which means more money in your pocket for a maximum Return On Investment. The powerful blower fan sends air through a 4-section manifold while the conveyor automatically speeds up or slows down as sections are turned on or off for consistent and precise fertilizer application.

• The revolutionary patented Air Command section control utilizes a pneumatic system to accurately place fertilizer onto the spinner disks to give you individualized 4-section control of your spread pattern.

• Pinpoint accuracy of four individual sections allows you to operate the system with ease. This robust design with few moving parts offers no gimmicks, just real-world results.

• The new Air Command section control option is available on pull-type models 2250 and 1850 with the new PTO drive system, and on 1450, 1250 and 1050 pull-type models with standard single hydraulics.

• Continue to do it all with the Unverferth pull-type Pro-Force Spreader. Use the Air Command section control for spreading fertilizer and in-seeding applications, while converting to single-section lime or litter application in a matter of minute