Foreign Ag Service Worked to Expand Trade in 2018

The USDA worked diligently in 2018 to expand trade opportunities around the world for U.S. ag producers. Those efforts paid off as global sales remained strong in spite of challenges in the trade arena through the year. Ted McKinney, Undersecretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs, says it’s been a “rollercoaster ride this year,” but U.S. farm exports remain strong, …

Desantis Urged to Help Farmers on Trade Deal

Incoming Gov. Ron DeSantis is being urged to use his close ties with President Donald Trump to bolster efforts to help Florida farmers fend off low-priced crop imports that weren’t addressed in the rewrite of the North American Free Trade Agreement. During a conference call last week, several members of DeSantis’ Transition Advisory Committee on the Environment, Natural Resources & …

U.S. Beef Competitors Seeing Benefits in Japan

Japan started cutting tariffs for some of U.S. agriculture’s biggest competitors, especially for beef. Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Chile will all benefit from lower Japanese tariffs. That, after the U.S. pulled out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership, or TPP, and the remaining 11-nations made their own separate deal. Southeast AgNet’s Randall Weiseman has the story. Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsJuly 1, …

USMCA and U.S. Ag Trade Benefits

When it comes to the new United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), many wonder what some of the expected immediate and long-range U.S. ag trade benefits are. Rod Bain takes a look at that new trade agreement. Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsJuly 1, 2026FL Cattle Enhancement Board Wraps up Funding YearJune 30, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Awarded Researcher Discusses New World Screwworm …

NCGA: Trade Aid Comes up Short

The National Corn Growers Association says the second round of trade aid payments provide virtually no relief. According to NCGA the payments, released by the White House last week, sets the payment rate for corn at just one cent per bushel, despite the fact that corn farmers have suffered an average 44 cent per bushel loss since tariffs were first …

Round Two of Trade Mitigation Payments Coming from USDA

The second round of trade mitigation payments will be coming to aid farmers and ranchers affected by the trade retaliation from other countries.  U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue made the announcement today after being authorized by President Donald Trump.  It will be the final round of trade mitigation payments that were originally announced back in July in response to …

African Swine Fever in China Could Affect Trade

African swine fever continues to be a significant problem in China. Craig Morris, National Pork Board vice president of international marketing, said if the issue continues, or possibly gets worse, it could affect pork markets across the board. Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsJuly 1, 2026FL Cattle Enhancement Board Wraps up Funding YearJune 30, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Awarded Researcher Discusses New World …

Farm Bureau Board Endorses USMCA Agreement

The board of directors of the American Farm Bureau Federation recommended swift passage of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). Exports to Canada and Mexico under USMCA’s predecessor, the North American Free Trade Agreement, increased from $8.9 billion to $39 billion yearly. The USMCA would retain those gains while adding improvements in terms of trade for poultry, eggs, dairy and wine. AFBF, …

Cattlemen Urge Action to Reduce Trade Barriers in Japan

National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) President Kevin Kester urged the Trump Administration to move quickly to tear down trade barriers for U.S. beef in Japan. Speaking at a public hearing on the potential economic impact of a U.S.-Japan bilateral trade agreement, Kester noted that reducing tariff and non-tariff trade barriers would benefit Japanese consumers and U.S. cattle producers. Japan is the top …