Mexico’s Problems Not Caused By U.S. Corn

In “A Flood of U.S. Corn Rips at Mexico” (Commentary, April 23), Michael Pollan blames American farmers for destroying the viability of Mexico’s corn industry. But the Mexican agriculture sector is thriving. The central premise of his article is wrong. The U.S. sells mostly yellow corn that goes into animal feed for Mexico’s beef, pork and poultry production. Corn produced by Mexican farmers is mostly white corn for human consumption. The small amount of U.S.-produced white corn sold to Mexico for human consumption offsets production deficits due to unrealized production, droughts or other factors. Without imports, Mexico’s poor would be faced with higher prices for one of their staple foods.

Under the North American Free Trade Agreement, Mexico has the opportunity to restrict corn imports but has chosen not to. Mexican farmers are unable to grow enough yellow corn to meet the demand generated by rising income levels under NAFTA.

The economic problems of small Mexican corn producers are not caused by corn imports from the U.S. The challenges have more to do with the lack of property rights, land fragmentation and the lack of rural development. Mexico does have significant rural development issues.

Dee Vaughan

President, National Corn

Growers Assn., Dumas, Texas