There's talk of an agricultural trade war with Europe, and on the great plains of the United States, there's concern some wheat-producing areas have too much rain. Kjesbo says each tidbit is important because it affects the price he's paid for his soybeans and wheat. Wheat is a crop, actually much like other crops in America, we grow in surplus. We only use about half the wheat that we grow and the other half has to go on a boat somewhere. But those boats aren't welcomed everywhere.
Many nations protect their own farmers by limiting or even banning food imports.
Some of those nations point a finger right back at the U.S., saying it also protects its farmers. Kjesbo says that been true at times but says federal policies give less protection now than other countries. Dennis Avery is an agricultural consultant whose speciality is international trade. And it goes back to a medieval fear of food shortages. Avery says protectionism takes many forms.