Farmers for Free Trade Announces 14-State "Motorcade for Trade" Harvest Listening Tour
August 29, 2025
Farmers for Free Trade today announced the launch of its "Motorcade for Trade" campaign, a 14-state tour across America's agricultural heartland designed to amplify farmer voices calling for open markets and reduced trade barriers. The campaign will kick off September 5th with Rep. Adrian Smith (R-NE) in Nebraska then Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-SD) and will visit key agricultural districts across the nation, culminating with a major event in Washington, D.C.
The campaign responds to mounting challenges facing American farmers and the opportunities that trade provides. With American agriculture generating $176 billion in annual exports and supporting more than one million jobs, farmers argue that trade access is essential for rural economic prosperity.
"American farmers are the most productive and innovative in the world, but they need a level playing field to be able to export to more markets across the globe," said Brian Kuehl, Executive Director for Farmers for Free Trade. "This campaign gives farmers a chance to tell their stories directly to the members of Congress who represent them."
The “Motorcade for Trade” includes a wrapped RV that will travel over 2,500 miles throughout harvest season, hosting listening sessions with members of Congress and making whistlestop visits to agricultural equipment manufacturers, export-dependent farms, state agricultural associations, and agricultural fairs.
“With farmers beginning to harvest their crops, many are struggling to make ends meet. To help America’s farmers, we must expand our exports and reduce input costs for fertilizer, equipment, and other farm inputs,” added Kuehl. “This tour will be a harvest listening session, gathering first-hand accounts from farmers during harvest and sharing that information with policy makers in D.C.”
Members of Congress from ag districts on both sides of the aisle will join the motorcade to discuss the importance of ag trade to their constituents. At each congressional event, Farmers for Free Trade will release new state-specific data on agricultural exports and the positive impact of trade policies on local farming operations. The tour will conclude with a Washington, D.C. event featuring the Motorcade RV and participating members of Congress.
This is the second version of the Motorcade for Trade with the first taking place during 2019 in support of USMCA passage. That tour included 47 stops all across the country with members of Congress that champion ag trade.
Campaign Schedule:
Launch: September 5th in Nebraska with Reps. Adrian Smith (R-NE) and September 6th in South Dakota with Rep. Dusty Johnson
States: Nebraska, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina (ends with event in DC)
Conclusion: Early November - Washington, DC
Total Distance: 2,500 plus miles across 14 states
For more information about the Motorcade for Trade campaign, visit farmersforfreetrade.com or text "AgTrade" to 52886.
Source: Farmers for Free Trade
