Latest News From COUNTRY

Have the Pacific Coast port bottleneck issues been resolved, or moved somewhere else? The East Coast may now be carrying the burden.

Demand for U.S. pork and beef exports in Colombia soar in 2022 with pork ahead of last year’s record pace by 10% and beef up 55% in volume and 78% in value over 2021, USMEF reports.

One of the largest export markets for U.S. pork and beef, Japan, emerges from its post-pandemic restrictions. USMEF Dan Halstrom explains his experience visiting the country for the first time in over two years.

What’s the cost of unlimited groundwater usage in a desert? For a Saudi corporation, it’s essentially a steal.

Do tariffs fuel inflation? John Phipps's Customer Support segment explains why economists have struggled to come up with estimates of economic effects due to lingering COVID influence on world business.

Fufeng Group recently bought 300 acres of land in North Dakota and the proximity to a U.S. military base has many concerned. But this isn’t the first time questions have been raised about China’s stake in the U.S.

“We have tried to work constructively with the Mexican government to address these concerns, but, unfortunately, U.S. companies continue to face unfair treatment in Mexico," said Ambassador Tai.

Starting in October, France will ban the use of meat names like "steak" and "sausage" on plant-based protein food in an effort to avoid confusion over the trendy meat alternatives.

Diesel prices are causing sticker shock, as fears of a possible diesel shortage are growing. It’s not just retail diesel prices that are rapidly rising. Some farmers report booking off-road diesel for above $5.

According to the Office of the USTR, the safeguard will allow U.S. exporters to meet Japan’s growing demand for high-quality beef while minimizing the odds that Japan will increase tariffs.

The U.S.-China trade war began in July 2018 when the Trump administration imposed tariffs on $550 billion worth of Chinese goods. Nearly four years later, the debate remains as to which country actually won.

A Canadian man alleged to be linked to multi-million-dollar hay fraud schemes in Montana, has been charged with similar crimes in Alberta.

South American imported beef containing hard plastic is found in U.S. Whole Foods stores across the country.

Biden says Ukraine has 20 million tons of stored grain awaiting export to various countries. He says lack of port movement coupled with halted planting in Ukraine will ignite a global food crisis unless action is taken.

Diesel prices hit historic highs this week. Due to increased demand and a drop in production, a diesel shortage may be looming as the largest diesel distribution hub in the U.S. is sitting on supplies at a 30-year low.

Canada Beef will spend $3.6 million to promote Canadian beef and veal exports globally and enhance awareness of the value proposition created by farmers and other participants within the beef and cattle supply chain.

Recognized as one of the greatest opportunities of U.S. red meat exports, trade talks gear up to address the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework. USMEF shares its comments on the pillar of resilient trade.

Colombia is a robust market for U.S. pork and beef imports. USMEF’s Don Mason describes how butcher shops have been instrumental in providing high quality meat to consumers.

Renewing its call for the immediate suspension of fresh beef imports from Brazil, NCBA also asks for a thorough audit of Brazil’s animal health and food safety system, to ensure the safety of the U.S. cattle herd.

What happens to meat imports when the largest city in China is under lockdown? USMEF’s Joel Haggard explains.

With the ongoing war in Ukraine, a recent U.S. Farm Report viewer asked about the U.S. and energy independence. John Phipps provides a reality check of the current situation when it comes to crude oil and petroleum.

The fundamentals in both the grain and livestock markets didn't change this week. So, why did prices see such a volatile trading week? Joe Vaclavik and Don Close break down this week's market action on U.S. Farm Report.

Even with Russia removed from the global fertilizer market, it still doesn’t create worst-case scenario. StoneX Group says China could make the situation worse, as China and Russia account for 40% of global phosphate.

Crude oil hit a 13-year high and wheat topped $13. With front-month soybeans soaring past $17, and corn nearing the $8 mark, the crisis in Ukraine means food and fuel inflation fears are also heating up. 

Just as wheat prices hit a new all-time high, the March contract was spooked, as profit taking caused the front-month contract to drop more than 80 cents in minutes. Despite that, the fundamental story hasn't changed.

Soft Red Winter (SRW) futures hit an all-time high Friday, as consecutive limit up trading days meant wheat prices topped a previous high set in 2008.

With the U.S. on the back end of COVID-19 and the conflict between Russia and Ukraine unraveling, USTR Katherine Tai says her office is currently focused on three themes: resilience, sustainability and competition.

Congress returns Monday, but to a very different situation due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which is expected to be one of the key issues President Biden talks about during his State of the Union address.

Despite signs Russian President Vladimir Putin may be ready to talk with representatives from Ukraine, Cargill confirmed a ship it chartered was hit in the Black Sea on Thursday. The vessel was empty at the time.

The Russia-Ukraine crisis sent wheat prices skyrocketing 50 cents higher, with corn up 30 cents at one point Thursday. Crude oil also soared above $100 per barrel, hitting the highest level since 2014. 

Cattle markets were hit hard Thursday on news of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Higher grain prices drove feeder cattle prices as much as $5 lower on CME feeder cattle futures and more than $2 lower for CME Live cattle.

Will the expected sanctions on Russia impact global meat trade and demand? Len Steiner of Steiner Consulting Group posed this question in the Feb. 24 Daily Livestock Report. 

Multiple trade agreements aided in reaching unprecedented levels of red meat exports for 2021. USMEF Economist Erin Borror weighed in on the recent report during the Weekly USMEF Audio Report.

Rep. Garamendi says the USDA partnership with the Port of Oakland “isn’t going to solve the problem” because shippers deliver product to the U.S. and leave ports with empty containers.

The popular plant-based beverage, Oatly, has recently been told to not repeat some of its 'misleading' advertisements in the United Kingdom.

On Monday the People’s Bank of China also announced a 0.1 percentage point cut to two of its key policy rates. It acted after GDP grew by more than 8% in 2021, but slowed down in the fourth quarter.

Canadian officials reported the first case of BSE in six years. South Korea has suspended all beef imports from Canada as a precaution until it can gather more information about the case.

China has agreed to resume imports of Brazilian beef following more than three months of suspension due to two atypical cases of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) were discovered in Brazil.

While Cargill and the United Food and Commercial Workers Union appear to have avoided a labor strike at the High River, Alberta, beef plant, a shut-down could produce significant disruptions to the U.S. cattle market.

A tentative agreement between Cargill and its unionized workers at the High River, Alberta, beef processing plant has been reached, avoiding a possible strike on December 6, 2021.

Montana Senator Jon Tester introduced a bill that would halt imports of beef from Brazil after repeated issues with delayed reporting of BSE. The bill has support from U.S. cattle organizations.

Brazilian authorities said two reported cases of a neurodegenerative disorder in Rio de Janeiro were not related to BSE, but NCBA calls on Secretary Vilsack to immediately suspend all imports of fresh beef from Brazil.

China's huge hog sector is struggling with excess production after millions of small, often first-time, pig farmers entered the industry to capitalise on record profits during a swine-fever related shortage.

Germany has reported a single case of atypical bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in a cow, the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) announced.

China said on Saturday it pressed the United States to eliminate tariffs in talks between the countries' top trade officials that Washington saw as a test of bilateral engagement between the world's biggest economies.

Brazil has suspended beef exports to China after confirming two cases of “atypical” bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in two separate domestic meat plants, the agriculture ministry said on Saturday.

Ongoing tensions between Australia and China have opened the door for increased shipments of beef and other commodities to China.

Even as beef cow numbers declined, Canada’s total cattle inventory increased slightly for the first time in four years on July 1. Like their American counterparts, western Canadian ranchers are struggling with drought.

A once-a-century drought has lowered the water level of Argentina's main grains transport river, reducing farm exports and boosting logistics costs in a trend that meteorologists said will likely continue into 2022.

Silver Fern Farms, the New Zealand grass-fed red meat company, said it will introduce its first range of Toitu Net Carbon Zero Certified Beef in the United States late this year.