Asia

Between drought and input costs, the beef industry nationwide is facing a variety of challenges.  The University of Idaho’s Phil Bass noted following the slowdowns from the pandemic, larger packing facilities are running at or near capacity which is good news moving product out to customers.  But when it c...

The Department of Agriculture will invest $220 million in eight new school feeding projects.  The projects are expected to benefit more than a million children across 2,200 schools in food-insecure countries in Africa and East Asia.  Agricul...

The supply chain continues to be a challenge for Americans, not only when it comes to products coming into the United States, but goods heading out.  Chris Voigt, Executive Director of the Washington state Potato Commission said they continue to struggle when it comes to getting product overseas, despite red hot demand for U.S. potato...

Key industry groups say the Ocean Shipping Reform Act, recently signed into law by President Biden, hasn’t fixed West Coast shipping problems for U.S. dairy exports.  The National Milk Producers Federation and U.S. Dairy Export Council trade manager Tony Rice says the Act was supposed to end abuses by ocean carriers. “But u...

During the recent U.S. Meat Export Federation annual meeting, former Trade Ambassador to China, Terry Branstad, discussed what he sees as keys to improving relations with the massive consumer of American ag products. He noted tops on his list; relationships ...

The Administration is gearing up for talks with key trading partners when it comes to the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework. The hope is the strategy will strengthen trade relationships with allies in Asia. Travis Arp, Assistant Vice President of Export Services with U ...

The United Nations says the war in Ukraine is already resulting in higher food prices and a shortage of staple crops in central Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa. The Russian invasion of Ukraine has severely cut down on shipments from the two countries, which combine to ship 25% of the world’s wheat exports and 16% of global corn exports. ...

Despite the many challenges, the dairy industry enjoyed a health growth rate in 2021. According to the National Milk Producer's Federation, milk products remained well valued among consumers. In 2020, the average American increased their yearly dairy consumption by 3 lbs ...

The White House and USDA are trying to ease shipping container shortages and other pandemic-related supply chain bottlenecks that are squeezing consumers, producers, and retailers and driving up prices. Last week, President Biden announced that the Port of Los Angeles will start operating 24/7 to help clear bottlenecks that extend between China to the U ...

Trade is vital to the American farm economy, especially for producers across the Pacific Northwest. Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack recently took time to address trade concerns, and to share what the Department is doing to help producers find overseas markets ...