Fair access for farmers

While presidential candidates are busy one-upping each another with anti-trade rhetoric, millions of families on the other side of the world are gathering around dinner tables featuring meat, eggs, dairy and grains brought to them by America's farmers.

As the global middle class grows, the demand for affordable animal-sourced protein will increase 60 percent. Couple that with 95 percent of the world's consumers being outside of the U.S., it's obvious trade is important to rural America. Corn growers stand ready to meet this challenge.

Trade is good for America, especially our farm economy. With farm income down 38 percent in 2015 from the previous year, we must find more markets. One out of every three rows of crops is grown for exports.

But, we need fair access to global customers. The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a trade agreement between the United States and 11 Pacific Rim countries, is an opportunity for us to gain fairness. TPP countries represent 40 percent of the global economy, and are growing faster than the rest of the world.

While TPP sits on the sidelines in Congress, Australia is gaining more access to Japan's beef market. With a level playing field provided by TPP, United States beef can regain this lost market share. Grain farmers like myself know red meat exports are beneficial to corn demand.

Missouri farmers work hard to put food on tables around the world and here at home. TPP will grow the agriculture industry, create jobs and strengthen local economies.

Jim Stuever, Dexter