Tri-State Farmer Jamie Beyer: Why She Flew to Washington to Defend a Trade Deal
- Dave Price
- Jul 2
- 4 min read
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Most farmers don't dream about testifying before Congress. They are usually thinking about weather forecasts, equipment repairs, markets, or whether they will get the crop in before the next rain. But sometimes, representing agriculture means trading muddy boots for a microphone in Washington, D.C.
That's exactly what Jamie Beyer recently did when she appeared before the House Agriculture Committee.
Technically, Beyer is a tri-state farmer, since her property with her husband covers Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota.
That keeps her busy, but she welcomed the opportunity to represent fellow farmers before members in Congress in the nation’s capital.
"It was a unique experience," Beyer told American Farmland Owner from her office in Wheatland, Minnesota. "I hadn't testified before in front of the Ag Committee, so it was an honor to do that."
Beyer wasn't in Washington to complain. She was there to explain to members of Congress (and President Donald Trump, in case he was watching) that a North American trade agreement should continue.
"It was kind of an interesting situation, because we didn't have a lot to complain about," she said. "When it comes to USMCA (United States Mexico Canada Agreement), it seems like for the U.S. soybean farmer, that's been a successful agreement that's allowed us to grow exports to Canada and Mexico."
Jamie Beyer bio:
Family farmer – Near Wheaton, Minnesota. Raises soybeans, corn, sugarbeets, and alfalfa.
Minnesota Soybean Growers’ Association – Former president, member
American Soybean Association Board of Directors -- Member
Red River Valley – Watershed district administrator
Traverse County 4-H – Volunteer
Traverse County Extension Board – Former member
USMCA benefits
Trade agreements can sound like something only economists or politicians care about, but Beyer said that farmers see the effects every day. Canada and Mexico remain two of the most important customers for American soybeans, and keeping those markets open matters to farm profitability.
But exports aren't the only reason she believes the agreement deserves another look. One of the lesser-known features of USMCA is its support for agricultural biotechnology.
"It was one of the first, if not the first, trade agreements to include some cooperative policies for biotechnology, for seed traits and that sort of thing," Beyer explained.
Agricultural biotechnology support
That may sound technical, but the impact is very real on the farm.
"It takes 13 years for a trait to get from the lab into a farmer's field," she said. "When we're talking about drought resistance, disease resistance, higher yields, better protein and oil... we want all those traits. But those will be for my children,” Beyer said. “We won't be able to use them on our farm, whatever they're developing now."
Reducing unnecessary regulatory delays, she said, could help farmers adopt new technology faster without sacrificing safety.
Beyer said, “Wherever we can reduce timelines and costs for new technologies, that's huge for agriculture."
Beyer has been involved with the American Soybean Association since USMCA was first negotiated.
President Trump changes public stance on USMCA
“…the best and most important trade deal ever by the USA,” President Donald Trump called the USMCA after he signed it in 2018.
Six years later, Trump has apparently soured on his three-country agreement following contentious talks during his second term in office that have been part of his global trade war.
“We do better as a country if we don’t have an agreement,” Trump said last month while speaking to reporters in France.
American Soybean Association support of USMCA
Beyer’s involvement with soybean organizations kept her well-informed of Trump’s changing position on USMCA.
"I was involved with the American Soybean Association when it first was signed," she said. "It's interesting to go back to the agreement and kind of review... that's what it did, and that's why we liked it then, and we like it now."
Of course, trade policy rarely affects every commodity differently.
"I think it doesn't hit ag all the same way," Beyer acknowledged. "I'm speaking on behalf of soybeans, but other entities and ag partners that we want to be successful have different opinions."
Watching congressional hearings on television often leaves people expecting fireworks, political grandstanding, and viral sound bites.
“I think I was worried about that ‘gotcha’ moment," she acknowledged about her feelings before her appearance. But she avoided any moment like that. This agriculture hearing felt very different.
Although, a few members came in specifically to create clips for social media.
"There were a couple of members that were there to make sound bites for their social media, and they got it and left,” she said.
Still, Beyer walked away believing the trip was worthwhile.
"It's overnight in a hotel, and you see more of the airport than you do," she laughed.
But the value wasn't measured in sightseeing.
"To me, it's always the things you learn along the way," she said. "Even if we were going to talk about USMCA, I have nine of my own handwritten notes."
She believes one of her greatest contributions isn't negotiating trade policy. It's translating farming for people who don't live it every day.
"I think a lot of farmers are so technical in their thinking," Beyer said. "Sometimes kind of dumbing it down for people isn't easy. And I can do that."
It is why farmers like Beyer make the trip to Washington. Members of Congress don't just need statistics about agriculture. They often need someone who can explain what life in the field really looks like.
Sometimes, that translation can be just as valuable as the testimony itself.
