Farmers have been watching with concern as President Donald Trump challenges trade agreements that he and others consider unfair, but at the same time have opened lucrative markets for the American agriculture industry.

Speaking to the American Farm Bureau in Nashville on Monday, Trump said he’s working to improve the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). The president has already withdrawn from the Trans-Pacific Partnership in an effort to bring more balance.

Nevertheless, American farmers have recognized that much of their prosperity rests in the ability to ship goods to the world. Exports account for 20 percent of American farm income, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

For Alabama agriculture, which is the nation’s second largest exporter of poultry products and a major supplier of beef, this is huge. U.S. trade agreements have opened the door for many farmers to become more productive and secure.

A lot of people, including many in agribusiness, agree with Trump that trade needs to be fair among nations. The concern among farmers is that the president may become impatient, walk away from existing agreements and leave the American agriculture community without a large market it depends upon.

Agriculture generates billions of dollars in Alabama, and the state is known for a producing a wide range of products shipped across the nation and worldwide.

Farming is a risky business because of climate conditions and other uncontrollable factors, but today’s farmers are now equipped with greater expertise to stay productive. 

However, losing overseas markets would be devastating across the nation.

One of the great strengths of Alabama and the United States is the ability to produce large varieties of food. That story is not often told well enough for Americans to fully appreciate the value of agriculture.

While many people rightly agree with Trump that trade agreements should be more equitable, renegotiating those pacts is difficult. 

It’s good the president is reaching out to Canada and Mexico in an attempt to restructure NAFTA, and that he is closely weighing other agreements.

Although some agreements have flaws, there is no doubt many in agriculture have been able to enter new markets because of trade.

With Cullman County long atop Alabama’s agriculture industry, we hope markets will continue to open.

Trump’s re-examination of trade agreements is worthwhile. But we do encourage caution and patience as the president pushes for those changes.