The U.S. economy is in good shape despite rhetoric to the contrary, and agriculture helps significantly by adding surpluses to the U.S. trade balance, CNBC and MSNBC contributor Rob Insana told the audience at the U.S. Grains Council's 56th Annual Board of Delegates Meeting this week in Louisville, Kentucky.

Insana’s presentation focused on the global economy and the impact of trade on current U.S. policy and politics. His presentation as a keynote speaker stressed the importance of a positive trade environment and continued exports, noting the benefits of the pending Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement. 

CNBC and MSNBC contributor Rob Insana spoke about the global economy and the impact of trade on current U.S. policy and politics at the U.S. Grains Council's 56th Annual Board of Delegates Meeting in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo: kasto80/Thinkstock)

"TPP helps assess the global economic climate," Insana said. "More jobs have been lost to technology than trade; trade has not hollowed out the middle class.”

With continued uncertainty surrounding TPP's approval, Insana told delegates they needed to share information about how trade benefits them with their fellow farmers as well as policymakers.

"We now have the ability to export a variety of products. It's vitally important that we continue to do that," he said. "If we can get the world growing at an average of 3%, that could have a huge impact on the global economy and trade overall."

Insana's presentation also stressed the importance of agriculture in light of the world's increasing life expectancy.

"Living for 150 years is no longer a far off reality," he said, citing the need for biotechnology to food security and the importance of agriculture in the worldwide economy.

Insana closed by reiterating the need to get out the facts about the value of trade to the U.S. economy.

“Feelings have replaced facts these days,” he said. "In order to create a more positive impression of trade, we need to continue to present facts in a way that creates a positive feeling."

Source: U.S. Grains Council