Cattle Producer Prepares for Sommet de l’Élevage in France

Randall Weiseman Cattle, Exports/Imports, Livestock

The Sommet de l’Élevage is holding its 26th annual event, October 4–6, in Clermont-Ferrand, France. The event is the European Union’s (EU) largest livestock exposition, featuring competitions and a tradeshow. This year, the Sommet is especially exciting for U.S. cattle producers because, for the first time ever, Americans have been invited to the event. Reneé Strickland of Strickland Ranch and …

Ag Exports Groups Urge Passage of the CREAATE Act

Dan Exports/Imports, Industry News Release, Trade

A coalition supporting ag exports is urging Senators to pass legislation to expand the Market Access Program and Foreign Market Development program. The Coalition to Promote U.S. Agricultural Exports and the Agribusiness Coalition for Foreign Market Development say the Cultivating Revitalization by Expanding American Agricultural Trade and Exports, or CREAATE Act, would boost trade’s impact on U.S. farmer profitability and …

Ag Exports, Trade Surplus, See Increases

Dan Exports/Imports, Industry News Release

Data from the Department of Agriculture shows exports of farm goods will push higher in 2017. A forecast compiled by USDA predicts the value of agricultural exports in the fiscal year 2017 will hit nearly $140 billion, up $10 billion from the fiscal year 2016. With stronger exports and modest import increases in 2017, the U.S. will have an agricultural …

Vietnam Reopens Market to U.S. DDGS Exports

Dan Exports/Imports, Industry News Release

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) announced that the government of Vietnam has notified the U.S. that it will resume imports of American distillers dried grains (DDGS).  In December 2016, Vietnam suspended imports of U.S. DDGS after reported detections of quarantine pests in U.S. shipments.  Prior to the suspension, Vietnam was …

Most U.S. Farmers Will Feel Impact from Hurricane Harvey

Dan Exports/Imports, Industry News Release

Hurricane Harvey stands to harm virtually all of U.S. agriculture, in some way. Many ports that ship agricultural commodities are in the path of the storm, from Texas to Louisiana, where the majority of corn and soybeans destined for other nations leave the United States. Texas produces high volumes of cotton, wheat, rice, and soy and is a large exporter …

Harvey Forces Shutdown of Texas Ports, Threatens Others

Dan Exports/Imports, Industry News Release, Trade

Two major ports along the Gulf of Mexico in Texas are closed following the flooding and damage from Hurricane Harvey. Ports at the Texas Gulf account for about 24 percent of U.S. wheat exports, three percent of corn shipments and two percent of soybeans. In 2011, the Port of Corpus Christi ranked 13th in the Nation for total waterborne agricultural …

Agriculture Looks for Ways to Boost Exports

Dan Exports/Imports, Industry News Release

Agriculture is looking for every way possible to boost farm exports, at a time when other trade avenues seem to be limited or closed. TPP is off the table, the NAFTA renegotiations may or may not bear fruit, and U.S.-imposed sanctions on China over North Korea could invite retaliation. So where does U.S. agriculture go? One answer came recently when …

Brazil Slaps Tariff on U.S. Ethanol

Dan Energy, Exports/Imports, Industry News Release

The Brazilian Agriculture Minister announced on Wednesday that the country’s Chamber of Foreign Trade approved a recommendation to impose a 20 percent tariff on U.S. ethanol imports after a 600 million liter tariff rate quota. Brazilian media are reporting the tariff will be in effect for two years. This will make it much more difficult for U.S. ethanol to access …