Agricultural companies and organizations united this week to launch the U.S. Agriculture Coalition for Cuba (USACC) to work toward liberalized trade and re-establishing Cuba as a market for U.S. food and agriculture exports. Agriculture secretary Tom Vilsack says the conversation to normalize relations with Cuba is long overdue and important for US agriculture. “Cuba imports about 80 percent of its …
Starting the Conversation on T-TIP
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack was in Europe last week meeting with agricultural and trade officials and about the importance of agriculture’s role in the U.S.-European Union (EU) Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (T-TIP). He started the week in Brussels by meeting with 28 agricultural ministers and representatives from the EU. “I wanted to emphasize the opportunity and the necessity that …
Potential for Ethanol Exports to China
A trade mission to China last week revealed great potential for U.S. ethanol producers. The USDA-led a mission to promote U.S. biofuels and agricultural product exports was part of President Obama’s “Made in Rural America” export and investment initiative, designed to help rural businesses and leaders take advantage of new investment opportunities and access new customers and markets abroad. Leaders …
Energy Independence No Greased Pig Fantasy
There is an old saying…”make hay while the sun is shining.” Dating back to at least 1546 this traditional farmer logic translates into grab opportunity while you can. This has never been truer regarding the nation’s energy situation. A new report by the Energy Information Administration makes that abundantly clear. EIA says the greased pig fantasy of energy independence in …
Corn Growers Strong at Farm Progress Show
The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) is out in full force at the 2013 Farm Progress Show, with both president Pam Johnson of Iowa and First Vice President Martin Barbre in his home state of Illinois on site. They were doing interviews with all the farm media at the show, talking about a variety of topics. We chatted about the …
Japan Ready to Beef Up Again
A group of Nebraska corn farmers and cattlemen are convinced after a recent trade mission that Japan will soon return to its traditional spot as the number one export customer for U.S. beef. The Nebraska Corn Board funded the participation of five Nebraska producers on the Japan mission, which centered on Tokyo and the Sendai region. They are pictured here …
TTIP Could be Tipping Point for Biotech in EU
Assuming they get past the National Security Agency spying issue, negotiations on the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) may ultimately hinge on agricultural issues - and they are big ones. “It is important that we get it right,” President Obama said about the proposed trade agreement last month in Ireland. “That means resisting the temptation to downsize our ambitions …
MAIZEALL Unites Corn Farmers of the Americas
The name might sound like a new corn-based laundry detergent, but it’s actually a new alliance between corn growers of North and South America created to address key global issues concerning food security, biotechnology, stewardship, trade and producer image. MAIZALL is the International Maize Alliance, signed last week by representatives of the U.S. Grains Council (USGC), the National Corn Growers …
Overseas Visitors Gain First-Hand Knowledge of Corn, DDGS
Today, Corn Commentary features a guest blog post from Wisconsin Corn Growers Association Communications Director Nancy Kavazanjian. Seeing is believing for grain buyers from around the world as they visit our farms and farm businesses this week in conjunction with the U.S. Grains Council Export Exchange Conference. I had the privilege of hosting top management officials from grain importing companies …
Former Ag Secretary and USTR at FPS
A former Secretary of Agriculture and US Trade Ambassador doubts Congress will get a farm bill done this month and he hopes the nation will stay focused on increasing export opportunities. Dr. Clayton Yeutter touched on those topics and several others during a brief press appearance at the 2012 Farm Progress Show last week. While Yeutter admits that Congress could …