Trade discussions between the US and China may have significant impacts to agriculture. Agricultural markets across the Southeast are continuing to react to last week's summit between President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, where trade and agricultural purchases were major topics of discussion. Following the meetings in Beijing, reports indicated China may expand purchases of US agricultural products as part of broader efforts to stabilize trade relations after last year's tariff escalation disrupted export markets and commodity prices. That is especially important for Southeastern agriculture because commodities like cotton, peanuts, poultry, soybeans, and timber products all depend heavily on international demand and export movement. Market analysts say cotton producers in Georgia and Alabama are watching particularly closely since export sales remain one of the biggest drivers of cotton prices. Peanut growers are also monitoring negotiations because trade stability can influence global commodity movement and overall market confidence heading into harvest planning later this year. While no major new tariff rollbacks have been formally announced yet, agricultural groups are looking for signs that China could increase long-term purchasing commitments for American farm products in the coming months. Growers across the Southeast remain cautious, however, because many trade uncertainties that impacted commodity prices over the past two years remain unresolved. /audio Audio Reporting by Josh McGill for Southeast AgNet.

Fed Meeting Review and China Trade Talks

To no one’s surprise, the Federal Reserve Board expected to leave interest rates unchanged at the conclusion of their meeting. Looking at CME’s FedWatch tool shows a better than 90% chance rates will not change at the June meeting or July meeting. There is no meeting in May. There’ll be a new Fed chairman when the board does meet in June …

non-tariff

Addressing Non-Tariff Trade Barriers Central To Agricultural Trade Negotiations

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vietnam

Insights From the Recent Agricultural Trade Mission to Vietnam

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trade

Under Secretary Lindberg Shares Details on Reduction in Trade Deficit

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Beef cattle prices

Insights Provided on US – UK Trade Deal on Beef Exports By Under Secretary

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soybean

American Soybean Association Calls for Additional Sales to China

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corn planting

Farmers Concerns Prior To Planting

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early American agriculture

Colonial Fur Trade and Wheat Demand Shaped Early American Farming

International trade played a powerful role in shaping agriculture in early America. Long before the United States became a global agricultural powerhouse, colonial farmers and traders were already responding to international markets. In the early 1700s, demand from Europe for both natural resources and food helped drive economic growth across several regions of the American colonies. From the booming fur …

antitrust

Labor Issues at Beef Plant in Colorado Impacting Markets

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exports

US Trade Missions Provide Benefits For Farmers and Ranchers

The Trump Administration has been implementing Rapid Response Trade Missions as part of a strategy to bolster foreign trade discussions. Recently Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Luke Lindberg completed a trade mission with US Agricultural Producers in Guatemala where he highlighted the efforts and benefits of these missions. Lindberg said, ”Undersecretary Luke Lindberg here in Guatemala City, leading …