This story is by Mark Parriott, Senior Vice President of Operations, Kinze Manufacturing.
For me, agriculture has always been a big part of my life. I spent summers growing up on my grandfather’s century family farm in Nebraska. Today, I’m the Senior Vice President, Operations at Kinze Manufacturing, a leading farm equipment manufacturer.
As a Midwesterner who has lived in both Minnesota and Iowa, I have seen firsthand the effect that policymakers can have on the agriculture industry and the local economy. I recently attended AEM’s “Tariffs Hurt the Heartland” townhall with U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA). I appreciated that she took time out of her busy schedule to listen to the concerns of Iowans about the adverse impact tariffs are having on our businesses and lives. As part of the operations team here at Kinze, I know how the tariffs are affecting the day-to-day processes at the Williamsburg facility. These tariffs make it more expensive to manufacture and sell our product to our consumers. It was very enlightening to hear from many others about their industry experiences when it comes to tariffs.
What’s my biggest takeaway from the townhall with Senator Ernst? We need stable and predictable trade relationships and agreements, and export opportunities that are free from trade barriers, so farmers and businesses can make plans with confidence.
