SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO AM) - There are threats from Mexican authorities of banning imports of United States corn, another potentially damaging impact on already stressed corn prices.
South Dakota Congresswoman Kristi Noem says at this point it's heated rhetoric.
Noem says producers rely heavily on a level playing field when it comes to international trade. She says "sometimes actions like this and dialog distract from what really needs to be happening, that's creating a more fair marketplace."
She says Mexico relies heavily on American corn and she believes that sometimes the rhetoric doesn't necessarily mean that there's a lot of action supporting it.
Noem says it should not be a distraction from ongoing trade contracts. She says the United States is very focused on continuing their markets and she anticipates the U.S. will continue to export corn.
Noem says the U.S. needs to expand export markets. President Trump has said he wants to renegotiate NAFTA, calling it a bad deal for the country.
A Mexican senator has introduced a bill that would U.S. corn imports and turn to South America for their corn.
Executive Director of South Dakota Corn, Lisa Richardson, anticipates producers planting more soybean this spring. Richardson says soybean prices are better and they don't cost as much to produce as corn.