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Iowa corn lobby calls for passage of trade deals

Ag/Outdoor

October 4th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A group that lobbies for Iowa corn farmers is calling on Congress to quickly approve trade agreements with Colombia, South Korea and Panama. After President Barack Obama said the White House was close to sending the deals to Congress for final passage, the Iowa Corn Growers Association said Monday all three are needed to expand markets for farmers. The group said South Korea could become an important market for ethanol products, Colombia would stop importing so much corn from U.S. rivals and dropping U.S. exports to fast-growing Panama could rise. President Kevin Ross says it’s frustrating American farmers have lost market share while waiting for Congress. U.S. signed the deals under President George W. Bush but Congress never approved them, which gave the Obama administration the ability to renegotiate details.