The Trump administration has announced that following one more round of technical consultations between the United States and China, China is to allow imports of U.S. beef on conditions consistent with international food safety and animal health standards and consistent with the 1999 Agricultural Cooperation Agreement, beginning as soon as possible but no later than July 16, 2017. The U.S. … Read More
Trump Trade Team to Include New USDA Post
President Trump now has a complete cabinet with Senate approval of Ambassador Robert Lighthizer as U.S. Trade Representative, and USDA will soon have an undersecretary for trade and foreign agricultural affairs to help with the administration’s international trade goals. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue announced a reorganization of USDA yesterday that includes the creation of the new undersecretary, which was approved … Read More
Animal Proteins – Focus for Branstad as China Ambassador
The longest serving governor in the country will be drawing on his agricultural trade experience and 30 year friendship with Chinese President Xi Jinping to serve as U.S. Ambassador to China. During his confirmation hearing Tuesday before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Iowa Governor Terry Branstad was asked by Sen. Christopher Coons (D-DE) what he will do to get more … Read More
Dairy D.C. Fly-In Builds Support for Trade with Canada, Mexico
The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) and the U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC) organized U.S. dairy leaders from across the country in Washington, D.C., this week to urge Congress and Trump Administration officials to hold Canada accountable for its trade violations and hasten the repeal of Canada’s controversial new dairy pricing system. More than 40 farmers and dairy company executives … Read More
POTUS Comments on Animal Ag & Trade
President Trump welcomed new Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue on his first day in office for a White House “Farmers Roundtable” where animal agriculture sat center stage and the signing of an Executive Order establishing an Interagency Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity. During the signing, President Trump commented on the current trade dispute with Canada over dairy product … Read More
U.S. Beef Gains Expanded Access to Thailand
In this week’s audio report from the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF), Joel Haggard, USMEF senior vice president for the Asia Pacific, explains how U.S. beef has gained expanded access to Thailand following a lift of BSE-related import restrictions. In the report, Haggard says that boneless and bone-in beef cuts from cattle of all ages are eligible for export to … Read More
Strong Pace Continued for U.S. Meat Exports
Statistics released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) show February results for U.S. pork and beef exports well above levels from this time last year, with pork exports posting the strongest February volume on record. Pork exports were up 15 percent year-over-year, with value up 17 percent. February exports accounted for 27.6 percent of total … Read More
Wisconsin Dairy Farms Hit By Canada’s Trade Actions
Over 70 Wisconsin dairy operations are already feeling the blow from a protectionist Canadian trade policy that has slammed the door on American dairy exports, violated existing trade commitments, and left farmers across the state scrambling to find milk buyers. Grassland Dairy Products Inc. informed over 70 operations this week that their contracts with the company will end May 1st, … Read More
Cattlemen’s Priorities for 2018 Farm Bill
In testimony before the House Agriculture Committee’s Subcommittee on Livestock and Foreign Agriculture, Craig Uden, a fourth-generation cattle producer from Nebraska and the president of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), called on Congress to authorize $150 million a year over five years for a “stronger and more adequate foot-and-mouth disease (FMB) vaccine bank” as part of the 2018 Farm … Read More
Animal Ag Applauds Appointment of Trump Ag Advisor
Animal agriculture applauds White House appointment of Ray Starling, current chief of staff for Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., to the position of Special Assistant to the President for Agriculture, Trade and Food Aid. John Weber, president of the National Pork Producers Council said, “By picking a true champion of American agriculture to serve in this key advisory role, President Trump … Read More