May 20 2019 09:40 AM

Edge co-op says U.S. action will remove key trade roadblock

The information below has been supplied by dairy marketers and other industry organizations. It has not been edited, verified or endorsed by Hoard’s Dairyman.
Brody Stapel

Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative, one of the largest dairy co-ops in the country, issued the following statement today after a deal was announced to end U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from Canada and Mexico.

This statement is from Brody Stapel, president of Edge and a dairy farmer from eastern Wisconsin.

“This is certainly good news for our dairy farmers and processors. Ending these tariffs will remove a roadblock to free and fair trade with two important partners, particularly Mexico, which is by far the biggest buyer of our dairy products.

“We hope this also signals that the proposed USMCA trade pact between the countries will get the full support of Congress. That deal is critical to the long-term success of the U.S. dairy community, so we cannot stress enough the importance of our lawmakers in both parties getting behind USMCA as soon as possible. Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative will continue to work aggressively with lawmakers to see it through.

“President Trump and U.S. trade negotiators deserve credit for moving to resolve the issues that are keeping America’s hard-working dairy farmers from receiving the full benefits of doing business internationally. Exports play a key role in the future milk price. Under today’s depressed milk prices and higher production costs, our farmers are feeling the strain. Lifting the tariffs will help ease the long-term pain.”

About Edge:

Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative provides dairy farmers throughout the Midwest with a powerful voice — the voice of milk — in Congress, with customers and within their communities. Edge, based in Green Bay, Wis., is one of the top cooperatives in the country based on milk volume. For more information, visit voiceofmilk.com.