USDA Announces Planned Trade Missions for 2024

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced next steps in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s efforts to bolster U.S. agricultural trade, including the department’s planned trade missions for 2024 and the opening of a public comment period for the new Regional Agricultural Promotion Program (RAPP). These efforts will help to support further growth in U.S. agricultural exports and introduce high-quality U.S. agricultural products to new markets.

“Market diversification is an important tool for maximizing growth opportunities for U.S. agriculture, as well as hedging...

American Egg Board Embarks on Trade Mission to Boost U.S. Export Growth

Last week, the American Egg Board (AEB) embarked on a 2023 U.S. Egg Industry Trade Mission to further its goal of boosting U.S. export growth and creating a stronger, more sustainable, and more resilient egg industry.

Home of The Incredible Egg, the American Egg Board is the national marketing organization of America's egg farmers. AEB's mission is to increase demand for eggs and egg products through research, education, and promotion. AEB is located in Chicago. 

From November 6-11, AEB faculty and U.S. egg industry leaders traveled to...

Paraguayan Authorities Approve Health Protocol for Beef Exports to U.S.

In a notice issued Monday, Minerva Foods announced that Servicio Nacional de Calidad y Salud Animal, from Paraguay, has approved a health protocol for Paraguayan beef exports to the United States.

Minerva Foods is South America's leading beef exporter and has four plants in Paraguay. Combined, those four facilities have a slaughter capacity of 8,000 head per day. 

Only bureaucratic procedures remain before Paraguayan production units are certified and exports can be started, added the company. Once certified, these units will be added to assets in Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay....

Fine-dining Initiative Underway to Differentiate U.S. Pork in Taiwan

USMEF kicks off a new campaign to revitalize U.S. pork’s image with the trade and consumers

Following setbacks that slashed exports of U.S. pork to Taiwan in recent years, demand has rebounded in 2023. Taiwan’s zero-tolerance policy for ractopamine residues and persistent trade tensions kept ractopamine in the public eye, creating a difficult business climate as U.S. exports plunged in 2021 and 2022.

While these headwinds linger, the business climate for U.S. pork has improved as supplies from Europe and domestic producers have...

Chef Competition Showcases U.S. Pork Quality in Vietnam

In Vietnam’s price-sensitive market, the U.S. pork industry is working to differentiate U.S. pork as top quality with the trade and consumers.

Already the preferred meat in Vietnam with annual per capita consumption near 60 pounds, pork consumption is projected to grow 3.1% per year through 2030, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.

Strong pork demand, combined with domestic production challenges following the discovery of African swine fever in 2019, are factors behind the U.S. pork industry’s interest in this developing market. U.S...

Protein Association Announces Breakfast Speaker at Annual Convention 

The National Protein and Food Distributors Association (NPFDA) is pleased to announce that Agriculture Commissioner of Georgia, Tyler Harper, has been selected as the breakfast speaker during the 2024 NPFDA Annual Convention and Showcase. This event will take place at the Hyatt Regency Atlanta from January 29 to February 1, 2024.

Harper, a seventh-generation farmer, small business owner, former State Senator, and Georgia's 17th Agriculture Commissioner, has deep roots in South Georgia. His academic achievements at the University of Georgia and Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, active involvement in his community and...

USDA Accepting Applications for Agribusiness Trade Mission to Southeast Asia

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Alexis Taylor will lead an agribusiness trade mission to Malaysia and Singapore on Oct. 30-Nov. 3. USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service is now accepting applications from U.S. exporters who wish to participate in the trade mission.

“Malaysia and Singapore are important markets in our efforts to diversify prospects for U.S. food and agricultural exports in Southeast Asia. These markets provide both a source of stability for American...

U.S.'s Yellen Begins China Visit with Both Sides Locked in Confrontation

U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen arrived in the Chinese capital on Thursday, beginning a four-day visit expected to focus on easing ties between the world's two largest economies, despite low expectations on both sides.

Yellen received a low-key welcome from a Chinese finance ministry official and the U.S. envoy to China, Nicholas Burns, as she stepped off a government aircraft just after a rainstorm brought some relief to an otherwise sweltering Beijing.

Both sides are sceptical that Yellen's visit will be able to take much heat...

U.S. Red Meat Industry Makes Presence Known at SIAL China

An eye-catching location and expanded pavilion with spacious public reception areas, private meeting spaces, meat sample displays and a separate cooking area for product tastings were among the pieces in place to ensure a prominent presence for the U.S. red meat industry at SIAL China in Shanghai. Twelve members joined the USMEF Pavilion at the show, which hosted 175,527 attendees from 67 countries during the three-day event.

These elements were part of a blueprint designed to tout grain-fed U.S. beef and pork as top quality and show...

U.S., China Start Talking Again, With Global Economic Order at Stake

Washington and Beijing are talking again. The test now is whether they can settle into a new normal that avoids upending the global economy—or fall back into a cycle of acrimony and retaliation.

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen heads to China on Thursday through Sunday to meet with senior government officials, her department said Sunday. The trip comes as tensions over trade, technology and Taiwan prompt both countries to reconsider the deep commercial and investment ties that have defined the relationship for decades. Yellen is hoping to preserve...

EU Approves 11th Sanctions Package Against Russia Over Ukraine

European Union governments agreed on Wednesday to an 11th package of sanctions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, aimed at stopping other countries and companies from circumventing existing measures.

The new package, tweeted by Sweden as EU president, forbids transit via Russia of an expanded list of goods and technology which might aid Russia's military or security sector.

The biggest novelty, diplomats said, was enabling restrictions on the sale of sensitive dual-use goods and technology to third countries that might sell it on to Russia. Names of such countries...

USMEF Conference Details Farm Bill Challenges, Examines Importance of U.S.-Mexico Trade Relations

The U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) Spring Conference concluded Friday in Minneapolis with insights from former House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson on how to make international trade a higher priority in the next Farm Bill.

Peterson, who oversaw the development of four Farm Bills during his 30 years in Congress, said trade has too often taken a back seat in Farm Bill debate and messaging.
“For those of you that have members of Congress in your area who are on the Ag Committee, start...

Urner Barry Releases May Pulse Protein Report

As of May 10, Ethiopia remains in the top spot of the dried pea export value chart, with a 55% increase in value year-over-year (YoY) noted. Cameroon holds the fifth spot, with a 71% decrease in value. Canada is holding the number one spot for dried lentils with a 1% decrease and Mexico holds the number three position with...

World Food Prices Rise for First Time In a Year

The United Nations food agency's world price index rose in April for the first time is a year, but is still some 20% down on a record high hit in March 2022 following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The Food and Agriculture Organization's (FAO) price index, which tracks the most globally traded food commodities, averaged 127.2 points last month against 126.5 for March, the agency said on Friday. The March reading was originally given as 126.9.

The Rome-based agency said the April rise reflected higher prices for sugar, meat and...

Urner Barry Releases April Soy & Wheat Report

The outlook for 2022/23 U.S. wheat in April is for slightly higher supplies, reduced domestic use, unchanged exports, and increased ending stocks. Supplies are raised by 5 million bushels on higher imports, based on...

USSEC Launches Development of U.S.-China Soy Value Chain Innovation Center

The soy industry plays a key role in trade relations between China and the United States. To deepen cooperation throughout the supply chain, USSEC is developing the U.S.-China Soy Value Chain Innovation Center, or SIC, in Henan, a province in Central China, with soy checkoff support. A hybrid Memorandum of Understanding signing ceremony was held on February 28, 2023, to mark this milestone.

“This MOU represents a remarkable and unprecedented success in deepening agricultural cooperation between the U.S. and China,” says Xiaoping Zhang, USSEC regional director...

Urner Barry Releases April Pulse Protein Report

As of April 12, Ethiopia remains in the top spot of the dried pea export value chart, with a 37% decrease in value year-over-year (YoY) noted. Cameroon holds the fifth spot, with a 79% decrease in value. Canada is holding the number one spot for...

Urner Barry Releases March Soy & Wheat Report

The 2022/23 U.S. wheat supply and demand outlook unchanged from February. The projected season-average farm price remains at $9.00 per bushel. The January 2023 farm price reported in the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) Agricultural Prices publication was $8.82 per bushel, down from $8.98 in...

Grain Deal Negotiations Underway Between U.N. Officials and Russian Deputy Foreign Minister 

On Monday, U.N. officials and Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergi Vershinin started negotiations on a possible extension of the Black Sea Grain Initiative. 

The Initiative, brokered by the United Nations and Turkey in July 2022, allows for the exports of Ukrainian grain and fertilizer from three of Ukraine's Black Sea ports. Moreover, the deal also ensures that Russian food and fertilizer reach the global marketplace. 

The deal's renewal deadline is rapidly approaching on March 18. 

Ukraine's corn and wheat exports have returned to nearly seasonal-average levels since last summer...

Urner Barry Releases March Pulse Protein Report

As of March 8, Ethiopia remains in the top spot of the dried pea export value chart, with a 47% decrease in value year-over-year (YoY) noted. Cameroon holds the fifth spot, with a 31% increase in value. Canada is holding the number one spot for dried lentils with a 6% decrease and...

Urner Barry Releases February Soy & Wheat Report

The potential for a smaller than anticipated Argentine soybean crop supports the U.S. soybean meal export program during the second part of the marketing year (MY), June 1-May 31. In the U.S., average soybean meal prices in Decatur, IL have risen by over $45.00 per ton in the past few months. As a result, the 2022/23 U.S. soybean meal price forecast is lifted to $450.00 per ton.

Urner Barry Releases February Pulse Protein Report

As of February 8, Ethiopia remains in the top spot of the dried pea export value chart, with a 94% increase in value year-over-year (YoY) noted. China still holds the fourth spot, with a 11% drop in value YoY. Canada is holding the number one spot for dried lentils with a 3% decrease and Sudan now holds the number two position with a sharp rise in value. Canada is holding the top spot for dried chickpea exports, with a 40% increase in value YoY. ...

Ag Exports in Focus Following Tariff Rate Quote Agreement Between U.S. and EU

Earlier this week, United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai along with EU representatives signed the U.S.-EU Tariff Rate Quota (TRQ) Agreement.

This enabled the U.S. to preserve its existing access to the EU market for various agricultural goods following the United Kingdom’s exit from the EU on January 1, 2021.

Through the first 11 months of 2022, the U.S. exported $11.1 billion worth of goods to the EU, according to the office of the U.S. trade representative. 

Under tariff-rate quota 005 (Meat of bovine animals/Edible offal of bovine animals), the Union volume of the United States/Canada country specific part was adjusted to 10,500 tonnes...

Urner Barry Releases January Soy & Wheat Report

In the latest WASDE report, the USDA reported the 2022/23 U.S. wheat outlook in January is for increased supplies, larger domestic use, unchanged exports, and lower ending stocks. Supplies are raised on higher beginning stocks as reported in the National Agriculture Statistics Service (NASS) Grain Stocks report. Feed and residual use is increased 30 million bushels to 80 million bushels based on higher second-quarter implied disappearance based on the Grain Stocks report. The season-average farm price is ...

U.S., EU Agree to Tariff Rate Quotas for Agricultural Products

The United States Trade Representative (USTR) Katherine Tai and a number of EU representatives signed the U.S.-EU Tariff Rate Quota (TRQ) Agreement on January 17.

According to the USTR, the agreement will allow the U.S. to preserve its existing access to the EU market for various agricultural commodities following the United Kingdom’s exit from the EU on January 1, 2021.

“The new TRQ allocations are based on the historical pattern of agricultural exports to the 27 EU Member States,” the USTR’s office wrote in a press release...

Urner Barry Releases January Pulse Protein Report

As of January 11, Ethiopia remains in the top spot of the dried pea export value chart. China still holds the fourth spot, with a 76% decrease in value year-over-year (YoY) noted. Canada is holding the number one spot for lentils with a 9% increase and Mexico is in the number two position with a 9% rise. Pakistan continues to hold the top spot for dried chickpea exports, with a 77% decline in value YoY.

The 2022/2023 (runs from September 2022–August 2023) dry bean marketing year is underway; with...

Urner Barry Releases December Soy & Wheat Report

In the latest WASDE report, the USDA stated the wheat outlook for 2022/23 is unchanged from November. There are offsetting changes for exports by-class with Hard Red Spring and White higher and Soft Red Winter lower.

In 2022/23, U.S. farmers are estimated to have produced a total of 1.65 billion bushels of winter, spring, and durum wheat from a harvested area of 35.5 million acres...

NPPC Statement on Philippines Extension of Reduced Pork Tariff Rates Through 2023

Statement by Terry Wolters, NPPC president and owner of Stoney Creek Farms in Pipestone, Minnesota:

“The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) applauds Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr’s announcement on the extension of lower tariff rates on pork and other food items. Gaining better market access to the Philippines has been a top trade priority for U.S. pork producers. We hope that the U.S. and the Philippines will continue to work toward establishing better market access through the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework...

Urner Barry Releases December Pulse Protein Report

As of December 14, Ethiopia remains in the top spot of the dried pea export value chart. China still holds the fourth spot, with an 81% decrease in value year-over-year (YoY) noted. Spain is holding the third-place spot for lentils with a 13% increase and Peru still holds the fifth position. Pakistan continues to hold the top spot for dried chickpea exports this December, with an 79% decline in value YoY.

U.S. agricultural exports in fiscal year (FY) 2023 are projected at $190.0 billion, down...