As the strength of the U.S. dollar continues to weigh on agricultural exports, the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) focused on the impact of the U.S. dollar strength during a panel discussion at last week’s USMEF Board of Directors Meeting in St. Louis. Michael Drury, chief economist for McVean Trading, provided a brief history on how the currencies of so … Read More
USMEF Board Meeting Stresses Value of Exports
The U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) Board of Directors Meeting and Product Showcase kicked off last Wednesday in St. Louis, Missouri. Richard Fordyce, director of the Missouri Department of Agriculture, welcomed attendees to the event with a discussion of the important role exports have played in making agriculture Missouri’s largest industry. Fordyce also outlined several initiatives that have recently been … Read More
Senate Ag Committee Holds Livestock & Poultry Hearing
U.S. Senator Pat Roberts, R-Kan., Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, held a hearing on the U.S. livestock and poultry sectors, titled “A Review of the U.S. Livestock and Poultry Sectors: Marketplace Opportunities and Challenges.” It has been five years since a hearing like this has taken place. Farmers and ranchers across the country took part … Read More
Report Shows Economic Benefit of TPP
Many of the nation’s livestock and animal production groups have stated their support for the U.S. International Trade Commission’s recently released report on the potential benefit that is offered to the U.S. economy by the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). The findings of the report align with many of these groups’ previous statements suggesting that the free trade agreement will work to … Read More
USMEF Applauds Taiwan’s Reopening to U.S. Lamb
U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) said it is the first time since 2003 that U.S. lamb and lamb products have regained access to Taiwan. Dr. Dennis Stiffler, CEO of Mountain States Rosen and USMEF vice chair, thanked U.S. agricultural and trade officials for their efforts to restore market access for U.S. lamb. “This is the culmination of many months of … Read More
U.S. Beef Arrives in Reopened South African Market
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) confirmed that the first shipment of U.S. beef recently arrived in South Africa following the reopening of the South African market earlier this year. “The arrival of U.S. beef in South Africa represents another important milestone in efforts by USDA and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative to regain access to this important … Read More
USMEF Reports on Guatemala
This week’s audio report from the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) discusses the pork consumption of Guatemala, which has remained relatively low throughout the past several years, though a majority of the pork currently imported by Guatemala does come from the Unites States. USMEF has been working with importers, retailers, restaurants and foodservice companies to increase awareness of the variety … Read More
AgriClear Collaborates with Canadian Beef Breeds Council
AgriClear has entered into a collaborative marketing agreement with the Canadian Beef Breeds Council (CBBC), an umbrella organization representing the purebred cattle sector in Canada. Based in Calgary, the non-profit CBBC works with various government and industry organizations to collectively support and promote Canadian seedstock producers domestically and internationally. Under the terms of the agreement, CBBC will promote the AgriClear … Read More
NFU Hosts Presser On TPP Opposition
While many United States trade officials are promoting the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) as an export-boon for agriculture, the National Farmers Union (NFU) continues to stand strong in their opposition of the free trade agreement. NFU, representing nearly 200,000 family farmers and ranchers, hosted a media teleconference this morning to talk about the TPP and announce a letter signed by 160 … Read More
USMEF Reports on Port Labor Contract Extensions
On this week’s audio report from the United States Meat Export Federation (USMEF), USMEF President and CEO Philip Seng discusses the developments being made regarding important contractual negotiations between the West Coast port operators and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU). In late 2014 and for much of 2015, U.S. meat exports were slowed by severe port congestion on … Read More