U.S. pork exports remained strong in February, seeing double-digit increases over last year in both volume and value. But, according to data released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF), beef exports were lower year-over-year despite improvement from the low totals posted in January. February pork exports totaled 219,729 metric tons (mt), up 11% from a …
April Beef, Pork Exports Below 2018 Levels
April exports of U.S. beef and pork were lower than in 2018, while U.S. lamb exports continued to trend higher. The numbers come from data released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation. Beef exports totaled just over 105 metric tons in April, five percent lower year-over-year, although the export value was down just slightly to $674.2 …
Beef and Pork Export Values Expected to Soften in 2019
The tit-for-tat trade war with China means a lower forecast for the value of U.S. beef and pork exports next year. The Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service said in its latest quarterly Situation and Outlook Report released this week that forecasts total exports of beef, pork, dairy, poultry and other livestock products combined are expected to decline $300 million …
CoBank: Trade War Takes a Toll on Ag Economy
Despite the strongest global economic growth the world has seen since 2011, the uncertainty surrounding trade disputes is causing escalating concern for U.S. agriculture. CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange Division says seventy percent of U.S. ag exports are heading to countries that are currently in negotiations or outright trade disputes. CoBank’s Rural Economic Review says the shift from trade war rhetoric to …
U.S. Producers Worried about Retaliatory Tariffs from China
China is threatening to impose stiff retaliatory tariffs on U.S. pork and soybeans, and that has U.S. producers worried. China’s wasted no time in coming up with a list of U.S. targets for retaliation for billions in U.S. tariffs on Chinese metals and IP-related goods. Politically-sensitive U.S. pork and soybeans, as feared, are on China’s retaliation list. U.S. Producers Worried …
Trade Tiff with China Serves as Negotiating Primer
A leading U.S. agricultural economist suggests that the trade issues with China serve as a vehicle for negotiations. Purdue University agricultural economist Chris Hurt says China may be simply signaling the U.S. that the nation wants to negotiate, just as the U.S. has seemed to signal to China in crafting the tariffs. That seems to be the case, too, according …
EU, U.S., to Talk Tariff Exemption
The European Union and U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross are meeting in Washington, D.C. this week to consider a potential tariff exemption. The EU is exploring an exemption from President Donald Trump’s steel and aluminum tariffs, according to Politico. The EU is seeking “more clarity” on the criteria on which such an exemption could be granted. U.S. Trade Representative Robert …
Ice Blockage In Major Waterways Slowing Grain Shipments
The brutally cold arctic air that’s covered the U.S. at different times this winter has caused an unusually high buildup of ice in some of the nation’s waterways. Portions of the Mississippi, Illinois, and Ohio Rivers that are open year-round have become smaller, or closed entirely, due to ice buildup. Mike Steenhoek of the Soy Transportation Coalition says it’s impacting …
Pilot Program Gives Canada Beef and Pork Exports Expanded Access to China
A pilot program is allowing exporters of Canadian beef and pork expanded access to China. The bilateral pilot project announced Monday will expand access to China for Canadian chilled beef and pork, and commit China and Canada to “fully implementing” an agreement reached last year to expand market access for Canadian frozen bone-in beef, according to AgCanada. Canadian beef exports …
Farmers Need Trade to Move Record Corn Crop
It’s no secret that American farmers produced another record corn crop, which means overseas market access will be a big key to limiting losses due to depressed corn prices. The Illinois Corn Growers Association says this is what farmers pencil out on paper to demonstrate why market access is so important to corn farmer profitability. “It looks like our ‘what …