Here Is What Farmers Say About Keeping NAFTA

Since his campaign days, President Donald Trump has voiced little support for keeping the United States involved in the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Ag trade groups, companies and associations have varying perspectives and positions on the topic as well. Last week, U.S. farmers, dairymen and livestock producers weighed in to share their points of view, via a Farm Journal Pulse survey.

The survey question asked was, “Do you think the U.S. should withdraw from NAFTA?” Of the 839 responses, 30% said yes, to eliminate it either because they believe the economy is better off without the trade agreement, or because they believe the U.S. can negotiate better deals with Canada and Mexico one-on-one.

Forty-three percent of respondents said to keep NAFTA, because it is crucial for farmers and for maintaining a low-cost food supply. Slightly more than one-fourth of Pulse participants, 26%, said they aren’t sure whether keeping or eliminating NAFTA is in the United States’ best interest.

The map below depicts the 839 responses, which are provided anonymously, to the question. The dots are color-coded based on the answer provided. Farm Journal partners with Commodity Update, the leading provider of agricultural information to mobile phones, to implement the Pulse survey, which is done twice per month.