In a calf barn with Dr. Uwe Clar (center) at the Vocational Training Our first farm tour was with Jurgen Mangelsdorf, part-owner of a Center near Echem. dairy farm in the former East Germany, near the border with Poland.
mentioned frequently. It’s a common talking point that food is affordable in the United States, we learned the same is true in Germany. A nation that experienced hunger during World War II has prioritized domestic agricultural production. I’m not sure whether or not this was the intention of the study tour’s organizers, but walking in the shoes of German farmers, if even for a few days, shed new light on their reluctance to open their markets to American dairy products. This brings us back to the proposed TTIP trade agreement. I’m sure there are many sectors of the American economy that will benefit from the removal of trade barriers with Europe, but outside of some crops and niche food products, I don’t see much opportunity for dairy or crops and food items derived from biotechnology. It would seem that Asia and other hungry corners of the globe are where the real trade opportunities exist. For that reason, the Trans Pacific Partnership (which currently awaits approval by Congress) agreement between 12 Pacific Rim nations ought to be a legislative priority this year. Success in Asia seems much more attainable for American agriculture than with a mature European market made up of relatively affluent, wellfed residents with strong opinions on how food is grown. Farmers are farmers no matter where in the world they farm. Though divided by an ocean, I found the pride, ingenuity and work ethic of Midwestern and German farmers to be very similar. It was easy to trade stories, opinions and experiences with them. On the other hand, given the hard-held opinions of German consumers, removing more agricultural trade barriers with Europe, might prove to be a bridge too far.
Joking with Jorgen Hemme (center), an 18th generation farmer and a master marketer of dairy products.
WFBF President since 2012, Holte is a grain and beef farmer from Elk Mound in Dunn County.
April | May 2016
Ukrainian native, Yana Filatova (right), explained the milking procedures at the dairy cooperative Karstaedt that she works at.
wfbf.com
7