Grains
20Nov

Commodities Seek Global Transit Security

The Corn Belt dodged a rain-soaked bullet this summer when hurricanes Harvey and Irma—while inflicting immense local damage—failed to take out key ports where farm goods meet global markets. But the potential for disruption remains tremendous, which is why industry stakeholders continue to search for alternative routes to the world. The Soy Transportation Coalition recently met in Vancouver so they could explore the options for exporting U.S. soybeans via the Canadian west coast. “We’re always trying to find ways to make sure...

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17Nov

China Tops Canada As Lead Buyer of U.S. Ag Goods

Tensions are rising when it comes to the future of trade. As leaders from Canada, Mexico and the United States are in the midst of round 5 of North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) 2.0 negotiations, new numbers from U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) show China is now the top buyer of U.S. agricultural goods. For the fiscal year 2017, China purchased $22 billion of agricultural products from the U.S, which is a large jump from the $19.2 billion bought in...

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17Nov

Look to Hit Singles with Old- and New-Crop Marketing

Marketing clichés are as tiresome as a drawn-out harvest season. But in almost all clichés is a nugget of wisdom that turned into an analogy that was eventually repeated enough times to make it “tiresome.” If the saying represents a concept – and a timely concept – it deserves our respect and consideration. With that in mind, let’s string a few base hits together and build a marketing plan for 2018-19 corn, soybeans and wheat. Yes – this is about 2018-crop...

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17Nov

U.S. Tree Nuts Lead Export Growth

The growth rate for U.S. imports of agricultural goods has more than doubled the pace of U.S. ag exports since 1995, a new report on agricultural trade reveals. Rising incomes in developing countries will create more export demand for U,S, meat, dairy, fruits and nuts, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Economic Research Service report, The Global Landscape of Agricultural Trade, 1995-2014. Reflecting a growing middle class, developing economies accounted for 42% of all global agricultural imports in 2010-14, up from...

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16Nov

Farm Exports Jump Nearly $10.9 Billion this Year

This past year U.S. Agriculture exports reached its third-highest level on record at $140.5 billion (in fiscal year 2017).  The nearly $10.9 billion jump lead to another year of trade surplus, a $21.3 billion excess. "U.S. agriculture depends on trade. It is great to see an increase in exports and we hope to open additional markets to build on this success," Perdue said. "I'm a grow-it-and-sell-it kind of guy. If American agricultural producers keep growing it, USDA will keep helping to...

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