Free Trade and Food Prices

The Senate Ag Committee has been holding hearings on the USDA's food and nutrition programs and how they relate to the farm bill.

On that subject, A University agricultural economist Craig Gundersen says there's plenty of common ground for farmers and low-income households to plow and it all involves back pocket issues..

"One of the key ways to reduce food insecurity is to make sure food prices are low. Low food prices are extremely important. Anything that keeps food prices from being lower should be removed regardless of what those regulations are. All these issues put restrictions on farmers and the ag industry as a whole."

---Gundersen says Open Trade is also needed.

"Free trade benefits farmers around our country. Weather it be Soy Bean Farmers or other farmers across the country, free trade really benefits farmers. But free trade also has huge benefits for low income households. That's because limitations on free trade increases prices. And it's the same if you are talking about food or other goods. So free trade helps both farmers and low income Americans."