together, because our world of hurt right now.

We need to move it forward.

>> In a sea of not great news, Wisconsin farmers could see a boost after President Donald Trump met with China this week.

As a result of the talks, China promised to restart buying U.S.

soybeans after halting such purchases.

In May, Wisconsin farmers waylaid by trade disputes could at least see a better market for soybeans, but they're still facing trade trouble for beef, rising costs, and for the many farmers who, as small business owners, depend on Affordable Care Act health plans, hikes in premiums.

We pick up now with Brad Olson, president of the Wisconsin Farm Bureau.

And thanks a lot for being here.

>> Thank you for having me.

>> So, all told, what kind of headwinds are Wisconsin farmers facing right now?

>> Well, just increasing costs, fertilizer, feed, all of those are increasing at a time when when other than the price of fat cattle, everything is is down, corner down, beans have been down.

Milk is not good.

So lots of lots of headwinds out there.

On the other hand, farmers have faced this in the past and are resilient.

>> Are the input costs for things like fertilizer and feed having to do with trade?

>> Not so much.

Certainly a little bit.

I mean, if you, you know, from the potash side of things, 80% of potash comes from, from Canada.

So we certainly want good stable trade with Canada on that side to keep potash prices normal.

Normal.

>> How welcome is the news that China will start buying soybeans again.

>> Oh extremely welcome.

I mean, a big deal not just in Wisconsin but across the nation to get China back.

You know, maybe not this year, but the next two years of buying what they have in the past is exceptional.

Good news for soybean farmers and all farmers across the nation.

>> Is it expected that China will buy enough to kind of offset that country not buying since May?

>> Well, they're going to buy roughly, you know, 12 million metric tons this year, which isn't going to make up the difference.

But at the end of the day, it's going to make a big difference.

And moving forward to 26 and 27 with that promise to buy back to the, you know, the same level that they had been is certainly going to help agriculture out in the long run here.

>> What about beef producers in Wisconsin with President Trump's plan to quadruple imports from significant impact in this state?

>> I guess time will tell.

You know, certainly it's the first time that beef producers have been profitable in a number of years.

So we're certainly concerned and keeping an eye on that on a regular, very regular basis.

>> As to this government shutdown and the Fight over Affordable Care Act, enhanced premiums or enhanced tax credits, how dependent are Wisconsin farmers on kind of marketplace plans?

>> Somewhat fortunately, Wisconsin Farm Bureau is again this year going to try and get the Tennessee Health Plan passed here in Wisconsin, which would help farmers considerably that that are in that in-between maybe don't are not eligible for the Affordable Health Care Act, but at the same point, can't afford regular health care from, you know, companies across the state of the nation.

So again, we're working on trying to to find that middle ground where we can where we can help members out.

health plan offered by the Farm Bureau do?

I mean, what what is that plan?

>> It's just a health plan that not necessarily insurance, but a plan that is typically, like I say, it isn't for people who necessarily on the affordable health care, but also people who cannot necessarily afford it, finds them, them people that are in between.

Right.

>> And so that would require legislation from the state.

>> It would require legislation from the state and being signed by the governor.

14 other states around the nation have it.

>> And what are those prospects for that happening?

>> A little better than 5050, I think.

>> Well, those aren't bad odds, really.

But no, no.

Another kind of hot topic.

The 2025 farm bill, the largest piece of which is SNAP, which we're all talking about right now.

How is work on that progressing?

>> Well, there again, we need not not just for Snap benefits, but everybody across the nation, farmers, everyone in day to day businesses.

We need to get the federal government back up and going again.

You know, you go to the airport, the TSA people aren't necessarily being paid.

We need those people to be paid.

And hopefully here, hopefully this week we'll see some movement and get the government open again and get those people paid, as well as get recipients of federal programs taken care of.

that has been discussed a labor and labor shortages.

Is that something that Wisconsin farmers are with?

>> Yeah, I think so.

You know, it's agriculture is a labor dependent business.

And so it has always been that and we've just, you know, rural America, rural Wisconsin is shrinking.

So we don't have those those neighbors and those other farm kids to to necessarily fill those jobs.