Ag News

Radke: Producers Must Respond To Shifting Consumer Demands

IARN — United States cattle producers face numerous challenges, in the face of coronavirus.

Amanda Radke, South Dakota cattle rancher and BEEF magazine contributor, says “It begs the question: What are we going to do to keep producers on the land and beef on the plate during this crisis season and beyond?”

“There are no easy solutions to this loaded question,” Radke says. However, Radke believes “producers willing to innovate and pivot their business models, in order to better connect with their consumers and serve them with what they’re actually seeking to buy,” will be the most successful, even in the darkest of days. Read more

President Trump Suggests Terminating Live Cattle Imports, Canada Responds

IARN — President Donald Trump suggested “terminating” current trade deals allowing live cattle imports.

Our northern ally took notice, but does not seem too concerned.

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) data indicates Canada exported 700,000 head of cattle to the United States in 2019. Cattle imports look to continue under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), which goes into effect on July 1, 2020. Dennis Laycraft, executive vice president of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association, says the President’s remarks “caught our attention.” Read more

White House: China Deal Is “On Track”

IARN — Officials in the Trump Administration are talking positively about China’s commitments in implementing the Phase One trade deal with the U.S. That’s even as the coronavirus outbreak that began in China is straining relations between the countries. The deal requires China to make their markets more open, as well as increase its purchases of U.S. farm goods, manufactured goods, as well as energy and services by $200 billion above 2017 levels in the next two years. U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer says China is working to expand access for U.S. producers. Read more

“Lack Of Participation” In The Markets

IARN — U.S. grain markets completed another week, which included light trading volumes. A market analyst shares what you can expect from the upcoming, yet shortened trading week.

Greg McBride, commodities broker with Allendale, Inc., reflects on this past week’s trade. McBride says, “Volume was low across all markets.”

“What we’re seeing is a lack of participation, at this point. We’re not seeing the funds come in and slam the market down lower,” McBride said. “We’re not finding a lot of willing sellers when we get to the lower end of the range and we’re not finding a lot of willing buyers when we get to the upper end of the range.” Read more

China Remains “Far Behind” On U.S. Agricultural Purchases

IARN — Many remain concerned about relations between the United States and China.

Beijing this week threatened countermeasures, if sanctions are to be imposed. First Squawk reported the latest development, which further complicates the month’s old Phase One trade agreement.

Jennifer Hillman, senior fellow for Trade and International Political Economy with the Council on Foreign Relations, analyzes the unique relationship between the world’s largest economies. Read more