Following one more round of technical consultations, 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 announcement was welcome news for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA). National Cattlemen’s …
Wisconsin Dairies Hit Hard By Canadian 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, …
The #USsoy Competitive Advantage
Iowa no-till corn and soybean farmer, Rolland Schnell, was one of the many farmers from states throughout the Midwest who trekked south to Panama for the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) and Soy Aquaculture Alliance (SAA) Aquaculture Educational Opportunity. During the event we spent a day at the Panama Canal getting a full glimpse of the important role infrastructure plays …
U.S. Soy Meets Demand of Growing Aquaculture Industry
As the fastest growing animal protein, aquaculture is the center of conversations beyond the circle of animal agriculture. And the most common circle these days discussing aquaculture is soybean. The U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) and Soy Aquaculture Alliance (SAA) joined forces to host the 2017 Aquaculture Educational Opportunity in Panama City, Panama. U.S. soybean growers, researchers and aquaculture experts …
U.S. & Cuba Trade Workshop at #AFBF17
Cuba has become a near and dear topic for me since visiting the country a few months ago with fellow ag media. The people of Cuba are eager to normalize relations with their big neighbor to the North opening trade and opportunities for U.S. agriculture. During the 2017 American Farm Bureau Federation’s Annual Convention & IDEAg Trade Show experts gathered …
Branding Sustainable Soy at #NAFB16
The U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) tackled NAFB’s Trade Talk with policy priorities from the global soybean perspective. USSEC board member and American Soybean Association (ASA) Director, John Heisdorffer, calls Iowa home where he specializes in diversified agriculture. Soybeans and corn are major crops while swine production fits nicely in between. John said, “I hope the Administration looks again at …
Meteorologist Explains La Nina at #ExEx16
No matter where on the supply chain you are, members of the agriculture industry are always interested in the weather. Kyle Tamely, a senior ag meteorologist with MDA Weather Services, spoke at the Export Exchange 2016 conference last week on weather trends and the global grain market to international buyers and domestic suppliers of corn, ethanol co-products, sorghum and barley. …
Need to Increase Demand for #Corn
The new president of the National Corn Growers Association says growing demand continues to be a big priority for farmers. “The crop is bigger than we’ve seen before, we just keep being able to produce these records,” said Wesley Spurlock, a corn farmer from Texas who just took over as NCGA president at the beginning of October. “Demand is what …
Addressing Sustainability with International Buyers
Addressing the issue of sustainability with international buyers of U.S. grains at the Export Exchange 2016 was Field to Market data and technology director Paul Hishmeh. Field to Market focuses on quantifiable sustainability in agriculture and Hishmeh brought an overview of what that looks like to the conference, which is co-sponsored by the U.S. Grains Council (USGC) and the Renewable …
How Will Election Impact Trade?
Renewable Fuels Association president and CEO Bob Dinneen had the challenge of talking about the U.S. presidential election to an international audience at Export Exchange 2016 this week in Detroit. “I know half of you are sick to death of the election and just want it over, and half of you are watching in somewhat bemused amazement wondering what is …