国际英语资讯:Spotlight: U.S. farm groups want open markets, not govt aid_时事

国际英语资讯:Spotlight: U.S. farm groups want open markets, not govt aid

According to the USDA's weekly Crop Progress report, just 19 percent of the U.S. soybean crop had been planted as of May 19, well behind the 47-percent five-year average.

John Boyd Jr., a fourth-generation farmer in the U.S. state of Virginia, has only planted about one fourth of his soybean crop so far this year.

"If my crop isn't planted one month from right now ... then it's all over for me, and not just for me, (but also) for other American farmers," Boyd told Xinhua in a recent interview. "I am part worried and part frustrated and I'm very disappointed."

While the U.S. government last year offered 12 billion dollars to help farmers weather the fallout, "I haven't received a dime of that," Boyd said, noting that the process has been slow.

"I don't want the aid. I want a fair price for my crop," said the farmer.

A second round of financial support to offset farm losses is only "a partial and temporary Band-Aid" and not a permanent solution for soy growers who have lost their number one export market, according to the American Soybean Association (ASA).

"Farmers are resolute that the only real solution is to take away the tariffs that have hemorrhaged our sales and landed our relationship with China on life support," said Davie Stephens, president of the ASA.

Ben Scholz, president of the National Association of Wheat Growers, said that he hopes to work with the Trump administration to quickly finalize other trade agreements that will open up new markets for wheat farmers.