Ernst stops at Unverferth Manufacturing on 99-county tour

Republican U.S. Senator Joni Ernst got VIP treatment during a visit to Unverferth Manufacturing between New Hartford and Shell Rock Thursday, complete with a welcome sign and a meet and greet with company management.

Afterwards, Ernst took questions from the media for approximately five minutes and covered topics ranging from the escalating trade war with China to the conduct of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Director Scott Pruitt to an abortion restriction the Iowa Legislature recently passed.

As news of the Chinese government halting all U.S. soybean imports hit the press on the same day, Ernst remains concerned about the adverse effects the closing of major markets could have on Iowa farmers— especially as she toured a factory that manufactures grain carts. Still, she added, bringing the world’s most populous country to the negotiating table is long overdue.

“It’s tough right now, but what the President has done is put China on notice. We hate that our American farmers are really caught in the crosshairs,” she said. “If we can get those discussions started, then maybe we can get some of this trade opened up.”

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