One of Iowa’s largest employers is sending out thousands of letters to farmers, urging them to call their Congressmen and push for support of permanent trade relations with China. Ken Golden, a spokesman for Deere and Company, says the 15-thousand letters are going out specifically to farmers, but he hopes all Iowans will back the effort to cement ties with China.Quad City-based Deere is a maker of equipment for agriculture, construction and lawn and garden care. Golden says Deere has already been doing business with China and the company hopes to do much more.Deere sells and makes some equipment in China. Recently, a shipment of 12-million dollars worth of Deere products made in Waterloo was sent to China.The U-S House is expected to vote next week on permanent normal trade relations with China. Many democrats oppose the move, citing concerns about human rights abuses and poor labor standards in China.

Radio Iowa