Monday February 12 Ag News

Beef Council Crisscrosses the State for Heart Month

When we think of February, of course we think of hearts, but maybe not in the context of “heart healthy diets,” or not immediately at least. This February, the Nebraska Beef Council is working once again with the Nebraska Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation Network to include lean beef cuts as part of a heart healthy diet during “Heart Month.”

Nebraska Beef Council Director of Nutrition and Education, Mitch Rippe, is spending February crisscrossing the state, visiting, presenting, and cooking at cardiac rehab facilities. Almost every day of the month is filled with a stop at a different clinic in Nebraska for Rippe. Some visits include Alliance, Superior, four different facilities in Omaha, and many others.

“This is a culmination of celebrating Heart Month and cardiac rehab week (February 11-17) specifically,” said Rippe of the timing of the classes. “It’s a great way to showcase the value that the cardiac rehab clinics have for the patients in the community.”

Rippe is meeting with patients and health care providers alike to discuss research and the application of using beef in diets. These classes culminate in preparing and cooking beef-based meals. The focus is on finding meals that are in line with their doctor’s recommendations, that are also tasty and accessible to find at the grocery store.                

“We do a session that talks about how beef and heart health are two things that are typically seen at odds together,” said Rippe of the importance of discussing and dispelling misconceptions. “When asked why it’s impactful, that’s when it’s important to look at consumer market research and ask consumers questions about their consumption of beef.”                

According to Consumer Market Research from NCBA, a contractor of the Nebraska Beef Council, 64 percent of consumers plan to eat the same amount of beef, 14 percent said they plan to eat more, and 14 percent plan to eat less. When it comes to eating less, Rippe said that three of the top five reasons are health and nutrition related.                               

Rippe said that attendees of the classes are really interested in learning about different cuts of meat, how to find them, and use them at home. He mentioned that more consumers are also preferring and planning to cook more meals at home versus eating out as often as they might have once done.

 “The focus is the practical application. We use a cuts chart that walks through how to select lean beef cuts,” said Rippe of applying their knowledge beyond the classroom. “Finding some of those cuts that maybe they’ve tried before, that meet the lean beef criteria, and then finding unique ways to prepare those is pretty impactful for them.”

The recipes that Rippe uses to cook with the groups meet all of the American Heart Association standards for sodium, fat, cholesterol and saturated fat, so that they can be used in a cardiac rehabilitation approved dietary protocol. These recipes can be found at recipes.heart.org.

For more information and to learn more about the Nebraska Beef Council, visit www.nebeef.org.



NE Farm Bureau to Celebrate National Ag Week with special edition shirt

In celebration of National Agriculture Week 2024 (March 17-23), volunteers throughout the state will wear a limited-edition Agriculture Week t-shirt and share on social media how and where they help grow Nebraska through their connection to agriculture. When people understand agriculture, we become citizens that can make informed decisions for our families and communities.

How to participate?
    Step 1: Purchase a limited-edition, Ag Week 2024 shirt for $17 (S-XL), $19 (2XL), $20 (3XL, 4XL)
        The online store will open February 12-16, 2024.
    Step 2: Wear Ag Week shirt on March 19.
    Step 3: Post a photo on social media wearing the shirt and share how your connection to agriculture grows Nebraska.  
    Step 4: Be entered to win prizes using the hashtags #HereWeGrow and #TalkAboutAg
    Step 5: Continue to wear the shirt throughout the year to keep the conversation going!

Who can participate?
Anyone who eats food, wears clothes, or uses fuel for transportation!

How to purchase a shirt?
Act fast! Purchase your limited-edition shirt on a short time schedule!  Get the details here: https://nefbfoundation.org/agweekshirt/.  

Purchase a shirt (or two) at our online store between February 12-16. This is the only time the store will be open to offer this shirt. Your order will be shipped directly to you just in time for National Agriculture Week!

How to join on social media?
    Snap a photo of yourself in your t-shirt, whether you’re on the farm, in the classroom, or in your office!
    Create a post on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram with the photo. Share how you see agriculture helping communities in Nebraska grow and thrive.
    Use the hashtags #TalkAboutAg #HereWeGrow

How to win cool prizes?
When you use the hashtags #TalkAboutAg and #HereWeGrow you’ll be entered to win cool prizes!



CAP Webinar - Farm Energy Management: Focused Solutions for Minimizing Power Charges
Feb 15, 2024 - 12:00 PM

F. John Hay, Extension Educator — Energy, UNL Department of Biological Systems Engineering,
Rick Stowell, Professor and Animal Environmental Engineer, UNL Department of Animal Science

Farm electricity costs are large annual cost. Saving on electricity many times goes beyond energy efficiency or reduced energy use. This webinar will explore how farms are charged for electricity and ways to identify and possibly slash costs.

Register and get more information at https://cap.unl.edu/webinars.  



Dodge County Cattlemen meeting

Please join us for the upcoming Dodge County Cattlemen meeting!

Date: Monday, February 19, 2024
Social hour: 6:30 p.m. CT
Meal/Program: 7:30 p.m. CT
Location: Z’s Bar and Grill - 436 Main St., Scribner, NE
Speaker: Nebraska Cattlemen Executive Vice President, Laura Field
Meal: A complimentary meal will be provided for current members; the non-member rate is $20.



ADRIAN SMITH TO DELIVER FEB. 20 LECTURE ON INTERNATIONAL TRADE

Rep. Adrian Smith of Nebraska’s 3rd Congressional District will deliver a Feb. 20 presentation at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln highlighting challenges and opportunities in international trade as the Clayton Yeutter Institute of International Trade and Finance marks its fifth anniversary throughout this academic year.

The Yeutter Institute Five Year Anniversary Lecture with Smith will be held from 5 to 6 p.m. in Great Plains Room C in the Nebraska East Union. The lecture is free and open to the public. It will be livestreamed from the Yeutter Institute website.

Smith, who has represented the 3rd District since 2007, has long focused on international trade issues. He is chair of the House Ways and Means Committee’s Trade Subcommittee and the senior member of Nebraska’s congressional delegation.

Smith’s lecture is the public portion of a series of Yeutter Institute student events during the week of Feb. 19, with a focus on the institute’s trade minor. The minor, open to all University of Nebraska–Lincoln students regardless of their major, introduces students to the multidisciplinary nature of trade issues and is tailored to the student’s individual needs.

Smith, a past Nebraska state senator from Gering, is co-chair of the U.S.-Japan Caucus in the House. Last month, he and three other House members announced the creation of the bipartisan Congressional Agricultural Trade Caucus. The caucus aims to advance and promote policies vital to U.S. agriculture, including boosting agricultural exports, facilitating food and agriculture trade and knocking down unnecessary trade barriers.

The Yeutter Institute began in 2018 and is headed by Jill O'Donnell, the institute’s Haggart-Work Director. Cheyenne Gerlach is the assistant director.

The institute’s interdisciplinary approach fits in with the example set by Clayton Yeutter, a native of Eustis, Nebraska. Yeutter (1930-2017) earned three degrees from Nebraska: a Bachelor of Science, a law degree, and a doctoral degree in agricultural economics. His career encompassed the private sector, as president of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, as well as agricultural economics and government service, as U.S. secretary of agriculture and U.S. trade representative.

The Yeutter Institute couples its multidisciplinary approach with extensive engagement with trade professionals. Since 2018, more than 80 outside trade professionals and experts have participated in the institute’s programming through on-campus conferences and student events, as well as webinars and podcasts.



Timmerman Feedyard Management Internship Deadline is March 4th

The Timmerman Feedyard Management Internship is a nationally renowned feedyard management training program, exclusive to University of Nebraska-Lincoln, which has been producing feedyard management and industry leaders since 1988. The internship trains students through comprehensive feedyard management classes and with real world experiences in high caliber feedyards.

This program is designed for students interested in pursuing a career in beef feedyard management or other related agribusiness areas. The purpose of the internship is to train undergraduate students in the area of feedyard management to fill the growing need for trained, responsible individuals who can enter into management positions in feedyards.

There is no direct cost to the student to participate in the internship, with tuition paid by the Nebraska Cattlemen and from the Timmerman Endowment Fund. Students receive financial compensation for their time spent working in the feedyard, and thus students should treat the internship as a job and realize they have a commitment to the feedyard to earn their wage. Salary during the internship is agreed upon by the intern and feedyard; the class coordinators have no part in determining salary.

Applications are due on March 4th, 2024 and may be submitted online below. More information regarding other financial commitments such as housing suring the internship, can be found at this link... https://animalscience.unl.edu/unl-feedyard-management-internship.   

Participating Internship Feedyards
A major advantage in participating in this internship is the caliber of feedyards to which students are exposed. Students who enter the internship will be sent to top quality, progressive feedyards who believe in the program. Students have participated in internships in various states including Kansas, Texas, South Dakota, and others, but most students are placed in Nebraska feedyards. Many individuals who participated in the internship and now manage feedyards are hosts to interns. Because these feedyards believe in the program, students are exposed to all areas of the feeding business and are able to spend time with experts in the feedyard.

Examples of participating feedyards in recent years include:
    Adams Land & Cattle – Broken Bow, NE
    Cargill Cattle Feeders – Leoti, KS
    Craig Cattle Co. – Craig, NE
    Darr Feedyard – Cozad, NE
    Dinklage Cattle Feeding – Broadwater, NE
    Hi-Gain Feedyard, Inc. – Cozad, NE
    Holland Feeders – Wisner, NE
    McClymont Feed Yard – Holdredge, NE
    Mead Cattle Co. – Mead, NE
    Rhea Cattle Co. – Arlington, NE
    Roberts Cattle Co. – Lexington, NE
    Winner Circle Feedyard – Minatare, NE and Winner, SD

The feedyard benefits from the program as well because they are hosting enthusiastic young people who are interested in the feeding industry. If the feedyard and intern have a good working relationship at the end of the internship, a job offer is often extended to the intern (this is not guaranteed by the internship and is strictly between the feedyard and intern).



USDA Reopens Signup for Continuous Conservation Reserve Program

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is now accepting applications for the Continuous Conservation Reserve Program (Continuous CRP) signup. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) encourages agricultural producers and landowners in Nebraska who are interested in conservation opportunities for their land in exchange for yearly rental payments to consider the enrollment options available through Continuous CRP, which also includes the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) offered by FSA partners. Additionally, producers participating in CRP can now apply to re-enroll, if their contracts will expire this year.

“We are pleased to announce we are now accepting Continuous CRP offers,” said Farm Service Agency (FSA) Acting State Executive Director Tim Divis. “Continuous CRP is one of the best conservation tools we can provide producers and landowners. Whether a producer wants to focus on water quality benefits or work with one of our partners to address a natural resource concern in their area, the program offers many options to help you meet your resource conservation goals.”

On Nov. 16, 2023, President Biden signed into law H.R. 6363, the Further Continuing Appropriations and Other Extensions Act, 2024 (Pub. L. 118-22), which extended the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (Pub. L. 115-334), more commonly known as the 2018 Farm Bill, through Sept. 30, 2024. This extension allows authorized programs, including CRP, to continue operating.

To submit an offer, producers should contact the FSA at their local USDA Service Center by July 31, 2024, in order to have an offer effective by Oct. 1, 2024. To ensure enrollment acreages do not exceed the statutory cap, FSA will accept offers from producers on a first-come, first-served basis and will return offers for approval in batches throughout the year.

Additionally, producers with acres enrolled in Continuous CRP set to expire Sept. 30, 2024, can now offer acres for re-enrollment. A producer can both enroll new acres into Continuous CRP and re-enroll any acres expiring Sept. 30, 2024.

FSA water quality practices, such as riparian buffers, prairie strips, grassed waterways, and wetlands, will receive an additional 20% incentive. Buffer practices have a positive impact on water quality. Additionally, the Climate-Smart Practice Incentive launched in 2021 is also available in the Continuous signup.   

There are several enrollment options within Continuous CRP, including: · CREP: Working with conservation partners, CREP leverages federal and non-federal funds to target specific state, regional, tribal, or nationally significant conservation concerns. Nebraska has the Platte-Republican Resource Area CREP. · State Acres For Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE): The initiative restores vital habitat in order to meet high-priority state wildlife conservation goals. Nebraska has the Upland Wildlife SAFE and participates in the Migratory Birds, Butterflies and Pollinators SAFE. · Highly Erodible Lands Initiative (HELI): Producers and landowners can enroll in CRP to establish long-term cover on highly erodible cropland that has a weighted erodibility index (EI) greater than or equal to 20. · Farmable Wetlands Program: Producers and landowners can enroll land in CRP to restore previously farmed wetlands and wetland buffers, improving both vegetation and water flow.    · Clean Lake Estuaries and Rivers (CLEAR) Initiative and CLEAR30: This initiative prioritizes and offers additional incentives for water quality practices on the land that, if enrolled, will help reduce sediment loadings, nutrient loadings and harmful algal blooms. Through CLEAR30, a component of this initiative, these additional incentives for adoption of water quality practices can be accessed in 30-year contracts.

The water quality practice incentive builds on other improvements to Continuous CRP that were made in 2021, including expanding CLEAR30 from two pilot areas to nationwide availability and repositioning SAFE within Continuous CRP to give producers and landowners more opportunities to participate. Additionally, FSA has improved CREP by creating flexibilities within CREP for partners to provide matching funds in the form of cash, in-kind contributions, or technical assistance, adding staff to work directly with partners, and expanding opportunities for Tribal Nations to participate, beginning with three Tribal Nations in the Great Plains, the Cheyenne River, Oglala, and Rosebud Sioux Tribes, for the first time ever, to help conserve, maintain, and improve grassland productivity while reducing soil erosion and enhancing wildlife habitat.



USDA Announces Appointments to the National Pork Producers Delegate Body

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced the appointment of 158 delegates, including 153 producers and five importers, to the 2024 National Pork Producers Delegate Body.

Members appointed to serve one-year terms are:
    Nebraska: Mark Wright, Fremont; Darin J. Uhlir, Saint Paul; Ryan Preister, Humphrey; and Terry O’Neel, Friend.
    Iowa: Dennis C. Liljedahl, Essex; Linda Schroeder, Remsen; Trisha Cook, Winthrop; Gregg Hora, Fort Dodge; Erin Brenneman, Wellman; Joel Van Gilst, Oskaloosa; Aaron Juergens, Carroll; David Moody, Collins; Jamie Schmidt, Garner; Timothy J. Schmidt, Hawarden; Trent Thiele, Elma; Dean Frazer, Conrad; Aaron Cook, Winthrop; Dale Gerard Reicks, New Hampton; Greg Lear, Spencer; Mark Meirick, Protivin; Tom Paustian, Walcott; Bill Tentinger, Le Mars; Kevin Rasmussen, Goldfield; Haley Kerr, Burlington; Steven Kerns, Clearfield; Tim Bierman, Larrabee; Clark Wikner, McGregor; Jen Sorenson, Ankeny; Rod Leman, Iowa City; Ben Schmaling, Prescott; Ken Ries, Ryan; Ryan Pudenz, Ames; Todd E. Wilson, LuVerne; and Leon C. Sheets, Ionia.
    Kansas: Chad Groves, Overland Park; David Hartter, Sabetha; Scott Pfortmiller, Saint John; and Michael Springer, Neodesha.
    South Dakota: Shane Odegaard, Lake Preston; Ryan Storm, Mount Vernon; Bob Thaler, Brookings; and Lenny Gross, Leola.
    Missouri: Marcus Belshe, Henley; Steven Brier, Nevada; Jesse A. Heimer, Taylor; and Anthony Russo, Columbia.
    Minnesota: Bradley L. Hennen, Ghent; Amber Portner, New Ulm; Mike Boerboom, Marshall; Brian Schwartz, Sleepy Eye; Todd Selvik, Waseca; Vincent Baack, North Mankato; Chris Compart, Nicollet; Abbie Redalen, Chatfield; Myrna Welter, Stewartville; Roger Punt, Prinsburg; and John Anderson, Belgrade.
    Alabama: Daniel Tubbs, Oakman; and Sammie Lee Stone, Bessemer.
    Alaska: Patricia Worrell, Wasilla; and Richard Worrell, Wasilla.
    Arizona: Bruce Lawler, Lakeside; and Brad Tate, Taylor.
    Arkansas: Pat Pollack, Russellville; and Richard Gray, Dardanelle.
    California: Morgan Wonderly, Arroyo Grande; and Shelby N. Sopocy, Sacramento.
    Colorado: Jeff M. Ovalle, Yuma;, and Andrea Anderson, Wray.
    Connecticut: Hazel Secchiaroli, Waterford; and Jonathan Secchiaroli, Waterford.
    Delaware: John Tigner, Hartly; and Henry C. Johnson IV, Selbyville.
    Florida: Tommy Crawford, Lake Butler; and Kyle Mendes, Lake Butler.
    Georgia: Dania DeVane, Cuthbert; and Mark Clemmer, Broxton.
    Idaho: Brad Thornton, Kuna; and Wade Hanson, Melba.
    Illinois: Chad Leman, Secor; Cheryl L. Walsh, Princeville; Thomas Titus, Elkhart; Josh Maschhoff, Nashville; Pamela Janssen, Minonk; and Jason Propst, Toledo.
    Indiana: James L. Erickson, North Manchester; Tyler Fledderman, West Lafayette; Mark Legan, Coatesville; Nick Maple, Amboy; Todd Rodibaugh, Carmel; and Tanner Smith, Hillsdale.
    Kentucky: Michael Williford, Clinton; and Annie Tolle, Shelbyville.
    Louisiana: Brady C. Rutledge, Iowa.
    Maine: Brittany Hemond, Minot; and Michael Hemond, Minot.
    Maryland: Michael Stoner, Taneytown; and Thomas K. Gannon, Centreville.
    Michigan: Andy White, Jones; Joseph Dykhuis, Holland; and Jarred Lorenz, Kalamazoo.
    Mississippi: Sean Boe, Moselle; and Gerald Thompson, Bruce.
    Montana: Peter John Wipf, Carter; and Ken S. Kleinsasser, Havre.
    Nevada: Clayton Combs, Las Vegas; and Sarah Stallard, Las Vegas.
    New Jersey: Kirk Stephens, Sussex.
    New York: Jennifer Schwab, North Java; and James Luckman, Lewiston.
    North Carolina: Jay Archer, Tarboro; Jennifer Daniels, Autryville; Brian J. Kennedy, Pink Hill; Christina Phillips, Wallace; Christopher Conser, Concord; Blake Floars, Goldsboro; Jared Porter, Concord; Lorenda B. Overman, Goldsboro; and Joshua Wayne Coombs, Clinton.
    North Dakota: Nick Bundermann, Starkweather; and James Clay, Cando.
    Ohio: Nick Seger, Sidney; Nathan Schroeder, Leipsic; John D. Heinz, Washington Court House; and Nathan Isler, Prospect.
    Oklahoma: Joe Popplewell, Stillwater; Joe Embry Locke, Marietta; and Angie Johnson, Holdenville.
    Oregon: Jack Hurley, Albany; and Nicki Hurley, Albany.
    Pennsylvania: Ben Barcovtch, Berwick; Coleman Wagner, Akron; Drew Derstein, Lewistown; and Matt Walters, Schwenksville.
    South Carolina: Mark A. McLeod, Pinewood; and Brandon Glenn, Manning.
    Tennessee: Pamela Bartholomew-Gardner, Decaturville; and Eric Gardner, Decaturville.
    Texas: Josh Krohn, Lamesa; and Peter C. Baumert, Dalhart.
    Utah: Jim Webb, Beaver; Kurt Falslev, Benson; and Matt Robinson, Beaver.
    Virginia: R.O. Britt, Williamsburg; and Jessica Cunningham, Elberon.
    Washington: Tom Cocking, Colfax; and Paul Knittel, Davenport.
    West Virginia: Paige Allison McNeely, Shanks; and Tanner Benton McNeely, Shanks.
    Wisconsin: Howard A.V. Roth, Wauzeka; and Ross Mencke, Arena.
    Wyoming: Joe Bridges, Powell; and Jim Pannell, Hulett.
    Importers: Martin Sauer, Jersey City, N.J.; Rich Maebert, South Orange, N.J.; Roland L. Schinbeckler, Warren, N.J.; Elisa Sandson, Arlington, Va.; and George Gekas, Philadelphia, Pa.

The delegate body meets annually to recommend the rate of assessment, determine the percentage of assessments that state associations will receive, and nominate producers and importers to the National Pork Board (Board). Representation on the Delegate Body is based on annual net assessments collected on sales of domestic hogs within individual states, with a minimum of two producers from each state. States have the option of not submitting nominees.

The board and the delegate body were established under the Pork Promotion, Research, and Consumer Information Act of 1985. By law, USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) oversees operations of the board and the delegate body.



Naig Welcomes Grant Applications for the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig announced today that the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship is now accepting initial applications for the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure (RFSI) grant program through March 8, 2024.

The intent of RFSI is to build resilience in the middle of the food supply chain by developing and improving markets for Iowa’s small farms and food businesses. By investing in the development of local food processing, distribution and aggregation infrastructure, we can provide new job opportunities across our state. Iowa is receiving more than $5.2 million from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agriculture Marketing Service (AMS), which is part of a total RFSI budget of $420 million nationwide.

“As consumers increasingly look for local options and turn to Choose Iowa to find fresh food, the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program and other Department initiatives are aimed at developing more markets for Iowa products,” said Secretary Naig. “By building food processing capacity and strengthening supply chain distribution, farmers and small businesses will develop more durable avenues to market their high-quality products and consumers will end up with even more Iowa choices to enjoy.”

RFSI grants will support the distribution, aggregation, processing and packaging of fresh produce, grains, dry beans and other legumes, and value-added products for wholesale markets. Grants will only fund middle supply chain activities and projects that will move products to wholesale markets such as schools, institutional buyers like hospitals and colleges, grocers, and support other intermediary markets such as food hubs, post-harvest processing facilities, or other distribution networks. Iowa is also investing in efforts to strengthen partnerships between wholesale food hubs that will improve logistics – leading to better collaboration, increased capacity and more resilient supply chains.

Iowa’s RFSI plan includes three core areas of focus:

Equipment-Only RFSI Grants
Equipment-Only Grants can range from $10,000 up to $100,000. These grants can only fund equipment, which may be new, used or refurbished. Examples include, but are not limited to, equipment that expands capacity and infrastructure for the aggregation, processing, manufacturing, storing, transporting, wholesaling, and distribution of food products. Food products include specialty crops, grains for human consumption, aquaculture, and other value-added food products. A 10 percent match is required by the applicant. The window to submit pre-proposal applications closes March 8. If selected for further consideration, a full application will be due April 15. Iowa is allocating nearly $1.5 million toward RFSI Equipment-Only Grants.

Infrastructure RFSI Grants
Infrastructure Grants will range from $100,000 up to $1 million. Grants can fund capital investments such as construction and equipment. Examples include, but are not limited to, delivery vehicles, frozen or refrigerated storage, value-added food processing equipment, building renovations, or other equipment for middle-of-the-food-supply-chain activities. Infrastructure Grants can also fund facility design or engineering, staff time, plan development, market development and systems implementation for tracking, storage, and information technology. A match is required by the applicant. The window to submit pre-proposal applications closes March 8. If selected for further consideration, a full application will be due April 15. Iowa is allocating more than $1.5 million toward RFSI Infrastructure Grants.

Supply Chain Coordination
Strengthening coordination between wholesale food hubs will improve logistics, which in turn will lead to solutions that yield better collaboration, increased capacity and more resilient supply chains. The Iowa Food Hub Managers Working Group, organized in 2015 by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, connects the dots between producers and consumers across the statewide local food supply chain. Through RFSI investments, Iowa will develop and integrate new supply chain coordination strategies into Iowa's hub to hub network to increase collaboration, distribution and aggregation efforts with new software and standard operating procedures. The plan also calls for hosting a Middle of the Supply Chain Buyer and Supplier Summit to build relationships between local food buyers and producers and to share innovative improvements to Iowa’s food system infrastructure. A supply chain coordinator will also help build new markets and sales for Iowa’s food hub network and producers.  

RFSI is administered by the Department with operating assistance from Iowa Valley Resource Conservation and Development (IVRCD). Additional partners include Practical Farmers of Iowa and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.



Promoting Pork Across Key Global Markets
National Pork Board

To help promote pork products for export and to build relationships between exporters and importers, USDA Foreign Agricultural Service sponsored several agricultural trade missions in 2023. Representatives from NPB participated in 4 of these missions, recognizing the immense opportunity they present for promoting U.S. Pork on the international stage...

    Panama & CAFTA-DR: Attendees met with potential customers from Panamá, a bilateral Free Trade Agreement partner, as well as buyers from countries in the multilateral Central America and Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR.) The Dominican Republic is also the primary export market for U.S. agricultural products within the region.
     
    Japan: Japan stands as a high-value market, outpacing other Asian markets in importing consumer-oriented products and showing a willingness to pay a premium for top-quality goods.
     
    Chile: Chile and Peru are key trading partners for the U.S., representing South America’s second and third-largest agricultural markets.
     
    Malaysia & Singapore: Malaysia relies on imports of essential agricultural commodities. Most importantly, consumer products make up almost half of U.S. food and agriculture exports to Malaysia. Singapore is a key logistical hub, home to many important buyers of U.S. products in the region. There is an opportunity in Singapore, as a high-income country, it offers a unique and sophisticated market for U.S. Pork.

As we look ahead to 2024, NPB plans to engage in 4 more missions (Korea, Colombia, Vietnam and Canada), leveraging these platforms to not only promote the excellence of U.S. Pork but also to strengthen relationships with USDA, U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) and pork importers.

These trade missions are important for building trust and adding value to U.S. pork products globally. By actively engaging in these initiatives, we are not only bolstering the reputation of U.S. pork but also solidifying our position as reliable partners in the global market.