Thursday March 10 Ag News

Nebraska Corn Growers Association Elects 2016 Leadership

The members of the Nebraska Corn Growers Association (NeCGA) have elected their organization’s leadership for 2016. Members of the NeCGA Executive Board for 2016 are:

Larry Mussack of Decatur will serve his second term as president of NeCGA. Dan Wesely of Morse Bluff was elected Vice President and Natural Resources Chair. Dan Nerud of Dorchester will serve as Secretary and Field Services Chair. Chuck Emanuel of North Bend was elected Treasurer.

Past president Joel Grams of Minden will serve as Chairman of the Board. Additional committee chairs, who also serve on the Executive Board, include Steve Ebke of Daykin, Government Relations; and Greg Whitmore of Shelby, Research.



Current National Drought Summary
droughtmonitor.unl.edu

Early in the period, a ridge of high pressure over the Southwest directed Pacific storm systems into the Northwest, bringing persistent unsettled weather to Washington and Oregon but dry and warm weather further south. Meanwhile, an upper-air trough of low pressure over the East steered these Pacific storms southeastward across the Midwest which then tracked northeastward into New England. Since these systems were moisture-starved and moving rather fast, precipitation that fell on parts of the Southeast, Ohio Valley, and Northeast was mostly light. Later in the period, however, a change in the upper-air pattern allowed Pacific storm systems to move farther southward into California. This brought the state some badly-needed precipitation after rather dry and mild conditions the past 3 weeks caused a sharp decline in the Water Year-To-Date (WYTD) precipitation and snow pack that were both above-normal in early February. In the meanwhile, warmer and drier weather enveloped the eastern third of the Nation. As the period ended, the California storm began to impact the southern Plains. Showers and thunderstorms developed in north-central Texas and eastern Oklahoma late Monday, and expanded and intensified across the southern Plains and Delta after the 12 UTC (7 am EST) Tuesday Drought Monitor cutoff time. Therefore, the appropriate improvements in these two regions will be made next week. Weekly temperatures averaged above-normal in the West and Plains, and subnormal in the eastern third of the Nation. Light to moderate showers fell across Puerto Rico, while Alaska and Hawaii were quite dry. Unseasonably mild air persisted across Alaska - just like much of this winter.

Central and Northern Plains
In association with the D0 and D1 in the Texas Panhandle and no Day 7 rainfall, short-term dryness (at 30-, 60-, and 90-days), unseasonable warmth, low humidity, and occasional gusty winds, plus with less residual moisture from the November and December storms, abnormal dryness was increased into southeastern Colorado, southwestern Kansas, north-central Oklahoma and the Panhandle. A new D1 area was drawn in Roger Mills and Ellis Counties where 90-day percentages were 25-50% of normal. Although February was quite dry in eastern Kansas (and southwestern Missouri), reports on the ground indicated no issues yet. Examples included intermittent streams still flowing, full ponds, and running springs as residual moisture from November and December storms persisted.

Farther north, adjustments were made to the D0 and D1 areas in the Dakotas, western Minnesota, and eastern parts of Montana and Wyoming based upon short-term dryness (or wetness) at 60- and 90-day station data (ACIS) using percent of normal (PNP) and SPI, the lack of decent snow cover this winter, and the greatest positive temperature anomalies during these periods. In general, the consensus for D0 is more of a concern for limited soil moisture in the near future if the temperature and precipitation patterns persist. With respect to changes, D0 was extended southward into south-central North Dakota, across extreme northern South Dakota (where 90-day PNPs were below normal and temperatures well above normal), and west-central Minnesota (similar conditions to South Dakota). In contrast, the short-term indicators were wet in southeastern Montana and northeastern Wyoming, thus D0 was removed there.

Looking Ahead
During the next 5 days (March 10-14), an ongoing storm in the southern Plains and Delta (as of Wed., Mar. 9) is expected to slowly track northeastward, dumping heavy rains (more than 2 inches, locally to 10 inches in Louisiana) on the southern Plains, lower and middle Mississippi, Tennessee, and Ohio Valleys, and New England. This is expected to cause localized flooding in many parts of the Delta (and did in northern Louisiana Tuesday night). In the Far West, Pacific storm systems are forecast to drop heavy precipitation (8-14 inches) on western sections of Washington, Oregon, and northern and central California, including the Cascades and Sierra Nevada, with lesser totals (up to 4 inches) in the northern Rockies. In addition, temperatures should be much lower with this set of storms as compared to the early March storm, producing more snow for the Cascades and Sierra Nevada. Unfortunately, little or no precipitation is expected in-between these two large events (Southwest, central and southern Rockies, northern and central High Plains). Temperatures will also average well above normal from the Rockies eastward.

For days 6-10 (March 15-19), the odds favor above median precipitation in the Rockies, northern Plains, eastern half of the Nation (except southern Florida), and southern Alaska. Below median precipitation probabilities were found in the Far West, Southwest, south-central Plains, southern Florida, and northern Alaska. The eastern half of the U.S. and southern Alaska will see good chances for above normal temperatures, while near to below normal readings are likely in the West and northern Alaska.



Connealy receives National Citizenship Award

The Center for Rural Affairs presented its 2015 Citizenship Award to Matt Connealy of rural Decatur, Nebraska. Matt will be honored at a special awards banquet March 11th at the Elks Country Club in Columbus, Nebraska.

The Citizenship Award is given annually to an individual or individuals who actively participate in the civic process for creating public policy, and who work closely with the Center for Rural Affairs to advance public policies that strengthen family farms, ranches and rural communities.

I’m honored to receive this award, just as I’ve been honored to be a partner with the Center for Rural Affairs for the last 30 years, working on project after project, all intended to improve the lives and economic circumstances of family farmers, ranchers and small town Nebraskans… Senator Matt Connealy

“Matt Connealy is a valued friend of the Center for Rural Affairs,” said Traci Bruckner, Senior Policy Associate at the Center for Rural Affairs. “He was an outspoken and successful advocate for rural and small town Nebraska throughout his tenure in the Unicameral. And he was a tireless champion for so many of the legislative priorities that he and the Center for Rural Affairs share before, during and after his time as a Senator, even up to this day.”

Matt and his wife Judith, a college administrator, live near Decatur, Nebraska. Matt grew up in Decatur and has served in the Unicameral as a Nebraska Senator. He also ran for Congress, served as the Executive Director of the Nebraska Democratic Party, worked for the Center for Rural Affairs as Major Gifts Coordinator, and currently serves the people of Burt County on the County Board of Supervisors.

As a Senator, Matt's self-identified proudest accomplishments were his work on rural economic development and the passage of the state's first ban on racial profiling. He has been involved in cooperative development in both the renewable fuels and wind energy sectors. In addition to his work as a Supervisor, Matt helps run a local community foundation, manages his family's farm, recruits and educates candidates for public office, and in the 2015 legislature, found time to help the Center for Rural Affairs beat back attacks on industrial livestock zoning (LB 106) and the state's ban on packer ownership of livestock (LB 176).

“I’m honored to receive this award, just as I’ve been honored to be a partner with the Center for the last 30 years, working on project after project, all intended to improve the lives and economic circumstances of family farmers, ranchers and small town Nebraskans,” Connealy said. “And I look forward to more partnership efforts in the future.”



REAP Latino Business Center Entrepreneurs of the Year Named

The Center for Rural Affairs has awarded brothers, Arcadio and Ebodio Zepeda of Norfolk the Entrepreneurs of the Year Award from the Center for Rural Affairs’ Rural Enterprise Assistance Project (REAP) Latino Business Center. 

They will be honored for their efforts to establish and grow their business, Tu Casa, as well as for their integrity and leadership in their community and among Latino business owners at special awards banquet on March 11 at 5:00 in Columbus at the Elks Country Club.

The award is presented annually to an entrepreneur or entrepreneurs who have effectively utilized the services of the Center’s REAP Latino Business Center, is successfully operating and growing their business, and who best exemplifies the entrepreneurial spirit that is so crucial to Latino-owned businesses and the rural Nebraska communities they call home.

Tu Casa began eight years ago when the owners started making and selling food at the soccer fields in Norfolk. With the help a small grill, a few ingredients, and a canopy, the business was ready to go.

It didn’t take long for Arcadio and Ebodio to take an extra step. They purchased a food truck with the assistance of a local bank that provided a Small Business Administration (SBA) Loan.

The duo have managed and owned a food truck since 2007, providing authentic Mexican cuisine they learned growing up in Jalisco, Mexico.

The brothers attended one of the first Business Plan Basics Training REAP facilitated in Spanish in September 2005 in Madison. They continued to support and attend REAP Roundtables immediately after they completed the class.

“Arcadio and Ebodio’s dream is to have their own restaurant and to be able to expand their menu and offer new services,” commented Juan Sandoval, REAP Latino Business Center Director with the Center for Rural Affairs. “Since 2007, they have been writing their success page by page. With these entrepreneurs, we know there are more great things to come!”



Iowa Cattlemen Anticipate Tax Coupling Relief

The Iowa Cattlemen’s Association thanks Iowa House and Senate Ways and Means Committees for supporting a bill that would couple state taxes with portions of federal tax code Section 179.

In 2015, Congress permanently extended several key tax breaks including an enhanced $500,000 Section 179 deduction limit. Last year Iowa coupled with federal tax law for the enhanced deduction limit. Many ICA members await action from the 2016 legislature to reduce their tax liability for the 2015 tax year. If state tax returns are not coupled with federal provisions, Iowans are only allowed a $25,000 Section 179 deduction limit with an annual $200,000 threshold.

Earlier this year, the March 1 deadline - when farm tax returns are typically due - was extended to April 30 by Governor Branstad and the Iowa Department of Revenue. Iowa taxpayers who earn at least two-thirds of their income from farming or commercial fishing qualify for the filing extension. If a coupling law is passed, those that filed returns by March 1 will have to file amended returns to take advantage of the new provisions.

"In 2015, cow/calf and feedlot operators had record prices that allowed them to reinvest in their operations through equipment or facilities," according to Justine Stevenson, ICA's Director of Government Relations. "They made those investments banking on the state to couple with federal deduction limits."

The bill will now move to the House and Senate floors for debate. ICA encourages passage of SSB 3171 (HSB 642).

Coupling with federal bonus depreciation was not included in the bill.



VOLUNTEER PRECIPITATION OBSERVERS INVITED TO JOIN THE COMMUNITY COLLABORATIVE RAIN, HAIL AND SNOW NETWORK

The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship’s State Climatology Office and the National Weather Service are again recruiting volunteer precipitation observers across Iowa to participate in the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow network, known as “CoCoRaHS”.

All that is needed to participate is an interest in the weather, a four inch diameter rain gage, a suitable location to set up the gage and access to the internet.  All data collected are immediately available for free online and are routinely used for flood forecasting, drought assessment, news media stories, scientific research and general weather interest.

More information about the network is available on the CoCoRaHS web site at www.cocorahs.org. The website includes information on how to join, where to purchase your rain gage and how to accurately measure and report rain and snow.

The network was established by the Colorado Climate Center in 1998 and has now spread to all fifty states and Canada.  Iowa joined this volunteer network in 2007 and now has over 300 registered CoCoRaHS observers across the state.  However, more observers are needed to better document the amount and variability of rain and snow across Iowa.

“In 2015, much of central and southwestern Iowa experienced very wet weather from May through September. A welcome break in the wet weather occurred in October, but was followed by a very wet November and record wet December. For the year as a whole record high annual precipitation totals were recorded at Bedford, Shenandoah, Clarinda, Carroll, Audubon, Cherokee and Denison while portions of northeast and extreme northwest Iowa saw slightly less rain than usual. Current soil moisture levels over much of the state are the highest for this time of year since the aftermath of the 1993 floods,” said Harry Hillaker, State Climatologist for Iowa. “Whatever weather comes our way this year, the observations obtained by this network can help obtain a clearer picture of Iowa’s weather.”

Weather observers are needed everywhere but with the most critical needs are in Osceola, Palo Alto, Pocahontas, Worth, Wright, Allamakee, Calhoun, Carroll, Shelby, Audubon, Cedar, Adams, Monroe, Louisa, Davis and Van Buren counties.



MU FAPRI baseline projects rough agricultural economy

The next 10 years could be difficult for farmers. That was the message of the Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute (FAPRI) annual baseline report delivered to Congress on March 10.

“We are looking at several years of pretty tight financial situation for U.S. agriculture,” says Pat
Westhoff, director of FAPRI at the University of Missouri. “Farm income is less than half of the
2013 peak and we expect it to remain low for the next several years.”

Westhoff says the huge drop in the prices for many major commodities has driven income down
and will keep it down.

“Crop prices are well off the peaks that were established in the 2012 drought year. On livestock,
we had peak prices in 2014 that have also come down very sharply,” Westhoff says. “We’ve had
some cost reductions, but not nearly enough to offset the decline in receipts.”

The FAPRI baseline uses a model with different variables to project a range of market outcomes
for 2017-2025. Westhoff says some of the resulting 500 outcomes are much higher or lower than
the averages in the report.

The baseline has corn prices averaging less than $4 per bushel. While there might be short crop
years where prices could spike, Westhoff expects prices in most years to be closer to current
prices than the record prices of 2012.

Cattle, hog, chicken and milk prices have declined because of increased production and weak
export demand. The strength of the dollar is a factor in the drop in exports. While it’s very
difficult to predict any change in the value of the dollar, Westhoff doesn’t expect the dollar to
stay as strong as it was last year.

Modest increases in net farm income are projected in the baseline report, but when adjusting for
inflation, 2025 net farm income will be about the same as it was in 2015.

While this year’s baseline may not be as important to Congress since the next farm bill isn’t
slated until 2018, it does offer information for producers. Westhoff says the data can help
farmers decide which crops to grow and what investments to make, and equip farmers to deal
with risk by knowing both what is likely and what is possible.

Also addressed in the baseline report are the Agricultural Risk Coverage (ARC) payments
established in the 2014 farm bill. ARC payments are triggered when revenue falls below certain
levels. Payments are expected to decline rapidly after this year because the moving average of
past prices used to compute guarantees will decline.

During the period of high prices, many farmers invested in land and equipment to increase the
productivity of their operations. Sharply lower commodity prices may make servicing the debt
more of a challenge.

With farm income below peak levels and interest rates forecast to increase, Westhoff says there
will be continued pressure on farm finances and farm real estate values.

For more information, FAPRI’s U.S. Baseline Briefing Book is available at
http://www.fapri.missouri.edu/publication/2016-u-s-baseline-briefing-book/.



American Farm Bureau, Other Groups Oppose Additional Ag-Related Cuts

The House and Senate Agriculture committees made difficult choices to contribute to bipartisan deficit reduction goals when they crafted the farm bill just two years ago, and any calls for additional cuts to the programs they administer should be rejected, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation.

In a letter today, AFBF and 254 other groups called on congressional Budget and Appropriations leaders to oppose additional cuts that would further reduce spending for programs such as conservation, nutrition assistance and the nation's farm safety net.

According to the letter, any cuts would be in addition to the $16 billion contribution already made toward 10-year deficit reduction goals by reform of and cuts to the bipartisan farm bill passed by Congress just two years ago.

"These difficult cuts resulted from hard choices made to reform and reduce the farm safety net, conservation programs and nutrition assistance programs," the letter stated. "Some of the reforms made in the new farm bill are still being implemented."

In addition to asking Budget and Appropriations leaders to oppose any additional cuts for the Agriculture Committees in the FY 2017 appropriations process, the groups also asked to oppose any proposals to re-open any title of the farm bill during the consideration of the 2017 Budget Resolution. The groups also requested that neither the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry nor the House Committee on Agriculture be subject to reconciliation instructions.

"The Congressional Budget Office projects that mandatory farm bill spending will decline over the next five years, while mandatory federal spending outside the Agriculture committees' jurisdiction will rise over the same time period," the letter stated. "These committees have already done the hard work to make the difficult choices necessary to deliver bipartisan cuts, which the farm and food community have accepted in securing agriculture's contribution to the goal of federal deficit reduction."

The letter is posted at: http://bit.ly/1M8usOr.



Japan Initiates TPP Ratification Process

While the United States is likely months away from formal consideration of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement, the Japanese government announced this week it is initiating efforts for legislative ratification of the pact.

The announcement came through adoption of a Cabinet resolution that says the Japanese government will submit 11 bills to the Japanese Parliament, known as the Diet, aiming at ratifying TPP and enacting the bills required for approval of TPP.

The government intends to deliberate and pass the bills during the current Diet session that ends on June 1 to avoid making TPP adoption a focal issue during the Japanese general election that is very likely to be called in July.

Japanese trade officials noted that they hope to build momentum towards ratification of the pact in other countries by ensuring Japan takes the lead in proceeding with necessary domestic arrangements. Separately this week, Japanese officials dismissed the suggestion that parts of the agreement could be renegotiated, noting it was hard won and agreed to by all 12 parties at the negotiating table.

The moves from Japan come as it is increasingly clear TPP ratification in many countries will be on a long timeline.

In the United States, top lawmakers are cautious about addressing the agreement before November’s presidential election, given that many of the Democratic and Republican presidential candidates have expressed opposition to the accord.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who met with U.S. President Barack Obama this week in Washington, D.C., has not committed to any timeline for Canadian ratification.

On the other side of the spectrum, Malaysia has signaled that all amendments in relation to TPP compliance may be completed by year end. Other TPP member countries have indicated that they will take most of 2016 to seek approval.

The agreement will enter into force 60 days after all 12 member countries ratify it. If all member nations have not ratified it after two years, it will take effect 60 days after it is ratified by at least six countries accounting for 85 percent of the combined gross domestic product of the 12 signatories. In practice, this means both the United States and Japan must ratify the agreement.

The U.S. Grains Council (USGC) participated in the TPP negotiations on behalf of the U.S. feed grains industry and is poised to help its sister organizations – including the National Corn Growers Association, National Sorghum Producers and National Barley Growers Association - make the case for Congressional approval in the coming months.



Southeast Asia Grain Conference Brings Buyers, U.S. Sellers Together

The 10th Annual Asia Grain Transportation Conference held this week brought together the region’s top buyers of oilseeds, coarse grains and co-products with several of the largest U.S. exporters.

The conference was organized by the U.S. Grains Council (USGC) and U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) and offered both a robust agenda and outstanding networking opportunities for participants.

The 150 attendees benefited from a program that focused on how recent trends like weather problems, record production for oilseeds and grains, depressed freight rates and the strength of the U.S. dollar will impact the Southeast Asia region’s grain trade.

“The conference provided a platform for top-level decision makers to meet, interact and conduct business with exporters of U.S. coarse grains and co-products,” said USGC Regional Director for South and Southeast Asia Kevin Roepke. “In addition, the attendees gained an enhanced understanding of U.S. and global grain markets, grain trade and feed industry trends from the expert speakers who presented during the event.”

Southeast Asia has significant potential for increased exports with consumption of food growing at double-digit rates annually. For example, Vietnam sees itself as eventually surpassing China as the world’s largest per capita consumer of pork. Meanwhile, Malaysia, a predominately Muslim country, is one of the world’s highest per capita consumers of chicken.

However, while Southeast Asia’s appetite for meat continues to grow, the region’s ability to produce the coarse grains that are used to feed livestock is facing many challenges. From adverse weather to the lack of post-harvest infrastructure to shrinking arable land resources, the region’s grain farmers are unable to meet the local growing demand for coarse grains.

These combined factors offer significant growth opportunities for coarse grain and co-product exports to the region.

“To unlock these opportunities within my region, the Council is focusing on supplementing its robust technical servicing programs with an aggressive demand development portfolio,” Roepke said. “As the industry rapidly sophisticates and develops, we are looking towards developing a prescriptive approach that will create unique programs for each market.”



Brazil's Conab Ups '15-16 Soy View To 101.1 MMT

Brazil's Conab hiked its 2015-16 soybean crop view by 250,000 metric tons to 101.2 million metric tons on Thursday.

The Agriculture Ministry unit that conducts official crop surveys noted an improvement in conditions since its last survey in January, specifically with the return of normal crop conditions in Mato Grosso, the No. 1 producing state.

The forecast solidifies ideas that -- with the harvest nearly half complete -- Brazilian soybean output will top 100 mmt for the first time.

The report highlighted the impact of excessive rain in the southern states of Rio Grande do Sul, where there have been issues with waterlogging, and in Parana where lack of sunshine hours could be a problem.

The report also made mention of dry conditions in the northeastern states of Tocantins, Maranhao and Piaui, which have attracted market attention over the last two weeks, but Conab did not significantly adjust its yield forecasts for the region.

Soybean output is seen rising 5.1% this season on a 3.6% increase in planted area.

The government agency raised its second-crop corn figure marginally to 55.3 mmt, but this number is a long way shy of the 60 mmt plus numbers.



USGC Sorghum Export Report Shows Very Good Quality Crop Ready for Overseas Customers

The overall quality of the United States’ 2015 sorghum crop as it is prepared for shipment is very good, with 98 percent grading No. 2 or better according to the U.S. Grains Council’s (USGC’s) newly released 2015/2016 Sorghum Harvest and Export Quality Report.

“During the last marketing year, the United States was the top exporter of sorghum, accounting for almost 75 percent of sales,” said USGC Chairman Alan Tiemann, who farms in Nebraska. “Our new report indicates that sorghum being shipped overseas from this year’s crop should be of the high quality that our customers demand, which is excellent for the buyer and the farmer.”

The new report combines information about quality at the end of sorghum harvest and as it moves to export facilities. It follows the release of the 2015/2016 Sorghum Early Harvest Quality Report, which examined 50 commodity grain sorghum samples collected from local grain elevators early in the harvest season.

According to the harvest quality section of the new report, U.S. sorghum samples taken when entering marketing channels had the following key characteristics:
-    average test weight of 58.9 pounds per bushel (75.9 kilograms per hectoliter), with 97 percent of the samples within the range for U.S. No. 2 grade.
-    low levels of broken kernels and foreign material (BNFM), with 91 percent of the samples within the range for U.S. No. 1 grade.
-    average foreign material of 0.6 percent, which is within the range for U.S. No. 1 grade, indicating little cleaning will be required.
-    low levels of total damage, with 99 percent within the range for U.S. No. 1 grade.
-    no observed heat damage, which was expected for farm-originated samples.
-    average moisture at the elevator of 14.1 percent, which is near optimum for harvest moisture.

According to the export cargo section of the new report, U.S. sorghum samples at the point of being loaded for overseas had the following key characteristics:
-    an average test weight of 59.0 pounds per bushel (76.0 kilograms per hectoliter), with 100 percent of the samples within the range for U.S. No. 2 grade.
-    low levels of broken kernels and foreign material (BNFM), with 96.2 percent within the range for U.S. No. 1 grade.
-    average foreign material of 0.9 percent, with 98.3 percent within the range for U.S. No. 1 grade.
-    low levels of total damage, with 99.5 percent within the range for U.S. No. 1 grade.

All samples collected for both reports tested below the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA's) action level of 20 parts per billion for mycotoxins and FDA advisory levels for DON.

The harvest and export cargo quality report will be rolled-out to international customers in conferences, seminars and one-on-one consultations in the coming months.

“The Sorghum Early Harvest Report that we released earlier this year was well received by our customers overseas, and we are hoping for similar results with this second report that completes the picture of the new U.S. sorghum crop,” Tiemann said.

The harvest information is based on 207 commodity grain sorghum samples taken from inbound elevators in defined areas within nine of the top sorghum-producing and exporting states.

The export cargo information is based on 182 commodity grain sorghum samples taken from export shipments as they underwent federal inspection and grading processes performed by the USDA’s Federal Grain Inspection Service (FGIS).

As a package, both of the sorghum reports are intended to provide reliable, timely and transparent information on the quality of the U.S. crop as it moves through export channels. They also use consistent methodology to permit the assessment of trends in future years.



Vilsack Leads Business Leaders on Trade Mission to Peru, Chile

Leaders from 34 U.S. agribusinesses and organizations will accompany Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on a trade mission to Peru and Chile, March 14 to March 18, to expand export opportunities for U.S. food and agricultural products. Peru and Chile are also members of the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), which concluded negotiations in October 2015 on a historic trade agreement. Passage of TPP by the U.S. Congress will provide new market access across the board for America's farmers and ranchers by lowering tariffs, eliminating barriers, boosting exports and supporting jobs in America's rural economies.

"South America has been one of the fastest-growing world regions for exports of U.S. farm and food products, and Chile and Peru have been among the most rapidly growing markets in the region," said Vilsack. "I look forward to joining U.S. agricultural leaders to explore the many market opportunities that exist in this part of the world, particularly in light of the fact that both Chile and Peru are part of the TPP."

Agricultural exports have climbed more than 35 percent in value since 2009 under the Obama Administration, totaling a record $919.6 billion over the past seven years. Agricultural exports support more than 1 million American jobs. Since 2009, USDA has removed numerous unfair restrictions to U.S. trade to help farmers export more. USDA has also led more than 225 U.S. agribusinesses and more than 20 State Departments of Agriculture on agricultural trade missions to China, Chile, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Georgia, Ghana, Indonesia, India, Iraq, Malaysia, Panama, Peru, the Philippines, Russia, South Africa, Turkey and Vietnam.

This mission begins in Peru, where U.S. agricultural and related product exports have more than doubled since the U.S.-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement entered into force in 2009. The United States is already Peru's top supplier of both bulk and consumer-oriented products as well as imported ethanol, and the country's steady economic growth and expanding middle class point to further growth potential for U.S. exports across all sectors.

Participants will then travel to Chile, where all U.S. products enjoy duty-free access thanks to the U.S.-Chile Free Trade Agreement. Since the agreement was enacted in 2004, U.S. exports of agricultural and related products to Chile have grown nearly 600 percent, with the most significant increase being in high-value, consumer-oriented products. With rising consumer spending and the highest per-capita gross domestic product in South America, Chile holds many opportunities for U.S. exporters.

Mission participants represent a wide range of agricultural products and commodities, including grains, livestock, produce, processed foods and beverages, sugar, cotton, lumber and ethanol. They will meet with potential customers and host government representatives, forging relationships and learning about the market conditions and business environment in Chile and Peru. This first-hand intelligence will help them develop strategies to start or expand sales to these key markets.