Leaders from across the U.S. agriculture and food sectors are expressing their support and excitement for the new opportunities for collaboration with Cuba that were announced during President Obama’s historic visit to the island this month. The neighboring Caribbean nation shares common climate and agriculture related concerns with the U.S., and the measures announced today in Havana will mutually benefit … Read More
NPPC Urges Labor Talks at Western Ports
National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) joined other trade associations in sending a letter to the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) and the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA), urging them to begin early discussions on a contract extension or a new contract covering operations at West Coast shipping ports. Those groups, which represent, respectively, dock workers and the companies that own … Read More
US Gains Full Access for Beef Exports in Peru
The U.S. government has reached agreement with the government of Peru to remove barriers for U.S. beef exports to Peru for the first time since 2003, opening one of the fastest growing markets in Latin America to American beef and beef products. The United States exported $25.4 million in beef and beef products to Peru in 2015 and the export … Read More
USMEF Represented on USDA Trade Mission to Peru, Chile
The U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) is one of the agricultural organizations represented on the USDA trade mission to Peru and Chile. The delegation, which is led by U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, traveled to Peru and will conclude its trade mission in Chile on Friday, March 18. John Hinners, USMEF assistant vice president for industry relations, is part of … Read More
USMEF Talks Trade at #Classic16
While the educational sessions and programs at Commodity Classic are heavily focused on crop farming and its related industry partners, several organizations from the animal agricultural sector made a presence at the 2016 event, showing the integration that exists among the different sectors of U.S. agriculture. The U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) was one animal agriculture group with a presence … Read More
NMPF Board Endorses TPP Agreement
The National Milk Producers Federation voted Tuesday to support the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement. The organization is now urging Congress to pass the agreement this year, even as it also registered concerns with another major trade pact being negotiated with Europe. In addition to adopting a resolution of support for TPP, the NMPF board expressed its opposition to moving forward … Read More
NMPF President Addresses Senate About Trade
National Milk Producers Federation told members of a Senate panel the value of a trade agreement is formed not in the negotiations, but in the enforcement of the treaty. Jim Mulhern, president and CEO of NMPF, told the Senate Finance committee Thursday that trade is critically important to America’s dairy industry with the implementation of the Uruguay Round and numerous other … Read More
USDA & AFBF Talk TPP
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall got together to discuss the benefit of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) for agriculture as AFBF released an economic analysis of the pending trade agreement. “Until today, we didn’t have a specific documented review or study of that benefit,” said Vilsack, said in thanking Farm Bureau for doing the … Read More
NCBA Urges Swift Action on TPP
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association sent a letter on behalf of its members and state affiliates urging quick passage of the Trans-Pacific Partnership. NCBA President Tracy Brunner said cattle producers cannot afford to wait any longer for passage of this critical agreement. “The value exports add to U.S. beef is undeniable,” said Brunner. “Asia and the Pacific Rim are extremely … Read More
Nebraska Makes Beef Agreement With Israel
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced that a new agreement has been made with Israel to lift the ban on U.S. beef imports for the first time since 2003. The Middle Eastern country will receive beef shipments from Nebraska’s WR Reserve plant in Hastings. “Nebraska beef producers are the best in the world. This historic agreement with Israel … Read More