the president of the american farm bureau federation, ron bonnett, president of the

i am will roger, director of policy communications at the american farm bureau federation. today negotiators from three member states of nafta will begin renegotiating a treaty that is more than 20 years old. much is at stake particularly for agriculture. we have with us the three heads of the largest farm organizations in canada, mexico and the united states. the president of the american farm bureau federation, ron bonnett, president of the canadian federation of agriculture. and bosco vega of the conseco national, mexico. they will give their views of what should happen with modernization of nafta. no matter what you have heard there is a great deal our 3 nations have in common and can agree upon. they will give their opening remarks. after that we have assigning and a letter as well as secretary ricardo, chief negotiators for the treaty. after that we open the floor to questions. if you have a question please wait for the microphone so people on the phone and hear the question you are asking. mister devol, the floor is yours. >> thank you for attending, this is an impor

i am will roger, the director of policy communications at the american farm bureau federation. negotiators today from the three member states of nafta will begin renegotiating a treaty that is more than 20 euros old. -- 20 years old. much is at stake, particularly here --culture agriculture. today, we have with us the three heads of the largest farm organizations in canada, mexico, and the united. they are the president of the american farm bureau federation, the president of the canadian federation of agriculture, and president of the federation in mexico. these men will give their views of what should happen with modernization of nafta, for no matter what you may have heard, there is still a great deal of our three nations have in common and can agree upon. the three presidents will give their opening remarks. after that, we'll have a sign of a letter to the ambassador as well as the minister and secretary, chief negotiator for the treaty. after that, we will open the floor to questions. if you have a question here at the press club, please wait for the microphone so that peo

thank you to the american farm bureau for the hospitality. we had the opportunity to have lunch before the press conference and give us an opportunity to exchange views on where things are going. i think between mr. -- i think we realize there's common ground that we can build on. this morning we heard the ministers and secretaries make opening remarks on the renegotiation of nafta. it's interesting in the opening comments that we heard the word agriculture a number of times. with our leadership in the countries recognizing that agriculture is important, we, the farm leaders of all three countries must insist the voices of farmers and ranchers must be heard as the negotiations proceed. i think the press were coming out. i think it's a good issue of great importance to the economies of all three countries. cfa, american farm bureau and cna in mexico decided several weeks ago the it would be appropriate for us to try to find that common ground that we had when we move forward. we prepared a joint statement and subsequent letter to our negotiato

i'm will roger, director of policy of education at the american farm bureau federation. today negotiators from three member states of nafta will begin renegotiating a treaty that is more than 20 years old. much is at stake particularly foring a culture. today we have with us the three heads of the largest farm organizations in canada, mexico and the united states. they are from our right zippy

thank you, will, and thank you to the american farm bureau for the hospitality. we had the opportunity to have lunch before this press conference, and i think it gave us an opportunity to exchange .iews on where things are going and i think between these 2, i think we realize that there is a lot of common ground we can build on. this morning we heard the ministers and secretaries make opening remarks on of the renegotiation of nafta. i think it is interesting in the opening comments, we heard the word "agriculture" a number of times. with our leadership in all three countries recognizing that agriculture is important, we the farm leaders of all three countries must insist that the voices of the farmers and ranchers must be heard as these negotiations proceed. i thank the press for coming out. i think this is an issue of great importance to the economies of all three countries. a, american farm bureau, and cna in mexico decided several weeks ago that it would be appropriate for us to try and find a common ground that we had when we move forward. and we have prepar

american farm bureau and mexico, it is appropriate to try to find common ground we had when we moved forward and we are -- we have prepared a joint statement and subsequent letter to our negotiators based on the principle of do no harm. for agriculture, nafta, if we look at the changes since 1994, trade between our countries has grown exponentially. we must build on this success. with canada, us, we have 56 billion in reciprocal trade and the us has a surplus at this time, mexico and canada, additional trade, mexico has a slight surplus. canada is the top export market for 29 us states but as farm leaders we have outlined common ground from the path forward. there are five areas we agreed on. one is focused on increased and improved regulatory alignment. the secondary is looking at improving the flow of goods at border crossings. the third is further alignment of science-based measures and with that bouncy term that is human, animal and plant health issues. the elimination of non-science-based technical barriers to trade is another barrier we concentrate on and adapting agreement to

c.f.a., american farm bureau and c.n.a. in mexico decided several weeks ago that it would be appropriate for us to try and find that common ground that we had when we moved forward. and we have prepared a joint statement and subsequent letter to our negotiators based on the principle of do no harm. for agriculture, nothing has been good. if we look at the changes since 1994, trade between our three countries has grown exponentially. we must build on this success. $56 anada, u.s., we have billion in reciprocal trade. with mexico and canada we have $4.2 billion and mexico has a slight surplus. canada is the top export market for 29 u.s. states. as farm leaders we have outlined common ground for a path forward. there are five areas that we agreed on. one is the focus on increased and improved regulatory alignment. the secondary is improving the flow of goods at border crossing. the third is further alignment of sanitary measures and that's a fancy term that' human, animal and plant issues. the elimination of nonscience-based a

. >> reporter: the american farm bureau says canada and mexico are critical markets for u.s. agriculture. since nafta was enacted, the organization says u.s. agricultural exports to those countries have risen more than 300% to about 38 billion dollars last year or about a third of total u.s. ag exports. the american farm bureau says that helps boost farm incomes, which have been cut in half since 2013 because of low prices. >> we're looking at different opportunities to increase demand, but we certainly don't want to lose one of our most important markets and our important customers in canada and mexico. >> reporter: still, there are some items on farmers' wish lists for nafta talks. some poultry and dairy farmers want more access to canadian markets, somewhat less red tape to registers genetically modified crops and reduction in wait times at the border. >> it's the unknown that worries us. >> reporter: but he would be happy if things stay the same. >> that would be the best-care scenario. >> reporter: if other protectionist measures, some trade groups warn in the long run c

and it's member companies and associations in the crop protection industry including: the american farm bureaufor agriculture. more information at: agfoundation.org. sacramento's proud to be america's farm to fork capital visit: farmtofork.com >>i'm jason shoultz. coming up, i'll take you to the rice fields of northern california to find out how the grain being harvested here gets turned into a popular alcoholic beverage! >>folks in the country will tell you that there is a unique rhythm of life that's quite different from living in the city or suburbs. i'm sarah gardner. we're heading to kansas to visit a ranch where that rhythm of life is an important element in helping people with disabilities

and it's member companies and associations in the crop protection industry including: the american farm bureauation for agriculture. more information at: agfoundation.org. sacramento's proud to be america's farm to fork capital visit: farmtofork.com >>i'm rob stewart. research to improve crops benefits not only consumers like you but farmers in the far-flung corners of the world. we'll take you to illinois where new research is under way to improve crop yields just by using smart phone technology. >>hi, i'm sarah gardner. we've shared a lot of harvests with you over the years on america's heartland. but this time, we have an unusual story

and it's member companies and associations in the crop protection industry including: the american farm bureaur agriculture. more information at: agfoundation.org. sacramento's proud to be america's farm to fork capital visit: farmtofork.com >>hi, i' jason shoultz. we'll take you to michigan where floriculture is big business. it' one of the top 5 commodities in the great lakes sta.e >>it' a very competitive industry now. there's lots of product out there for people to buy plants and work in their gardens and things like that. >>we'll visit a greenhouse operation with an eye toward protecting the environment while providing your garden with beautiful plants and flowers.

and it's member companies and associations in the crop protection industry including: the american farm bureauion for agriculture. more information at: agfoundation.org. sacramento's proud to be america's farm to fork capital visit: farmtofork.com >>i'm rob stewart. coming up? a special edition of america's heartland, all about agritourism! >>you guys ready to milk a goat? >>let's go feed the cows! >>people are making a country connection all across the united states. >>look at the little cows! >>food's on! >>they're ca agritourists, explorers taking a vacation

ag industry and the american farm bureau, farm bureau federation said listen mr. ent whatever you do don't screw it up, do no harm. >> this has been a good trade north american agriculture from mexico and canada and we will make sure we have that voice heard loud and clear that we don't want to harm the game that we have had any. i don't see them doing harm to this treaty that has been good for agriculture. >> and i would point out to you liz many people don't know this but the nafta agreement must be ratified by congress so whatever they negotiate congress has to get behind it. there are a lot of farms out there and if they mess with them i don't think it gets approved. liz: you look like a norman rockwell painting out there, your green shirt with the grass in the corn. >> i am as old as norman rockwell but thank you. liz: thank you very much. i'm sure these negotiations will be going on for a long time. the closing bell, eight minutes away from hearing it with the dow up 20. just remember folks we were up 86-point but there has just been so much that has been thr