The United States has worked over the years to rebuild its share of the global beef market ever since exports dried up after the "cow that stole Christmas" incident, where a case of BSE was discovered in Washington state in 2003. By 2013, the US had recovered its losses and has since grown even more. I spoke with Phil Seng of the US Meat Export Federation recently, and according to him, this year is shaping up to be a very productive year for the beef industry.


"So far through the beginning of this year, the United States has become the number one beef supplier to the world," he said. "We've eclipsed our competitors in this regard. With increased production, I think that the export portion of the whole beef complex is pulling its weight and that's quite a milestone."


Seng attributes much of this growth in export demand to a few international customers where buying interest has shown signs of strength lately, including Japan, up as much as 41% and Korea, up by 23%, as well as our NAFTA partners Canada and Mexico, up by 14% and 17%.


"As we go around the globe, obviously, to see that kind of growth of up to 15% increase in beef exports and 19% in value," Seng said, "I think that's quite significant."


Listen to Seng report on the recent momentum developing in the international markets for US beef with me, on yesterday's Beef Buzz - click here.

Conversations like the one mentioned in the previous story with USMEF's President and CEO Phil Seng are coming to end soon. The U.S. Meat Export Federation opened its Spring Conference this past Wednesday in Arlington, Virginia, to discuss in depth the current international trade environment. The federation's big news though, was the introduction of longtime USMEF leader, Phil Seng's successor, Dan Halstrom, USMEF senior vice president for marketing, who will become president on September 1st and assume the title of president and CEO on December 1st. Seng will remain with the organization as CEO emeritus through July 2018.

In closing the session, USMEF past chairman Roel Andriessen, who chaired the search committee charged with finding and recommending candidates for the position of USMEF president, explained the extensive process that led the committee to identify Halstrom as its leading candidate. Andriessen also paid tribute to Seng for his decades of service to the organization, which Seng joined as Asia director in 1982 - just six years after USMEF was founded.

"Phil, you are a legend in our industry - there's no doubt about that, and your shoes will be extremely difficult to fill," Andriessen said. "You will leave behind a great legacy and I want to applaud you for all you have done for us."

Halstrom echoed these sentiments, noting that he's learned a wealth of information from Seng - not only during his time with USMEF, but throughout his 34-year career in international meat trade.

"I certainly don't expect to replace Phil Seng, but I hope to complement him with the help of a very talented USMEF team, and that is a tremendous advantage going forward," he said.

Halstrom joined USMEF as senior vice president for marketing in 2010, overseeing promotional activities for U.S. red meat managed through the organization's 18 international offices. He was previously vice president for international sales with JBS S.A., and from 1990 through 1999, Halstrom directed international pork sales for Swift/ConAgra Foods, Inc.

Read more about USMEF's soon-to-be transition in leadership and learn about what discussion took place regarding the current international trade environment, by clicking here.

 
The 2017 HRW wheat harvest was slowed or completely stopped during the first part of the week with cooler temperatures and rain showers extending from central Texas and across southwest Oklahoma. However, harvest in most of these areas is still a week or more ahead of normal harvest dates and resumed late week. While the overall harvested percentage in Texas is now at 20%, cutting in the area that includes central Texas and extending northward to approximately 50 miles south of the Oklahoma border is now more than 75% complete. Yields in this area are still being reported in a range from 20 bu/ac - 40 bu/ac (1.3 tons/ha - 2.7 tons/ha) with test weights ranging from 59 lb/bu to 65 lb/bu (77.6 kg/hl - 85.4 kg/hl).

Plains Grains now reports that Texas is 20% complete with harvest and Oklahoma has started with 3% harvested. No other states report any measurable harvest to date.

Read more from this week's report from Plains Grains by clicking or tapping here.

CropLife America applauded the legislative action taken by the House of Representatives yesterday, releasing a statement thanking the House for it's passage of  H.R. 953, the Reducing Regulatory Burdens Act of 2017.

CLA states that this bill will reduce redundancy in federal laws, ensure that farmers can adequately address crop threats, empower public health officials to use the best tools available, and enable the pesticide industry to operate in a highly regulated yet predictable environment.

"The House has passed similar bills on this issue since 2011, showing unwavering bipartisan support for the responsible use of pesticides under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act," said Jay Vroom, CEO and president of CLA.

Essentially, this measure will eliminate the redundant permit requirements for pesticides applicators and will clarify Congressional intent regarding the regulation of the use of pesticides in or near navigable waters.

To listen to Anderson's full remarks, or for a full line up of this week's episode, click here.

The US Farmers and Ranchers Alliance this week, introduce its first-ever Agriculture in America Sustainability Report during the Sustainable Brands Conference, a national event showcasing brand leaders who create environmental and social purpose to drive innovation.

The report demonstrates how farmers and ranchers seek out and employ practices that allow them to better protect the planet's resources, while efficiently and effectively producing food.


Building on key insights from USFRA's annual research  to better understand consumers' perception of sustainability in U.S. food and agriculture, the report concludes that consumers struggle to define sustainability. However, when farmers explain the tangible ways they are improving the water, soil, air and habitat on and around their farms, consumers are actually able to grasp the full picture.


"Sustainability as it relates to food and agriculture and the tools that farmers and ranchers use help us conserve our resources and continually improve," said Brad Greenway, USFRA Chairman and South Dakota crop and livestock farmer, "so we look forward to having conversations and sharing our story at the Sustainable Brands Conference."

You can learn more about this report and take a look at it for yourself on our website, by clicking or tapping here.

 
Because off the Memorial Day holiday- we will not be sending you a Monday morning email this coming week- we will return as normal on Tuesday.

We will have reports on many of our radio stations as normally scheduled on Monday.

If you are having the chance to relax and enjoy friends and family this weekend- have a great time and be safe.

For many of our farm friends- this will NOT be a relaxing weekend as they finally have dry enough weather to get harvest started or get it restarted- or many will be trying to get a spring planted crop into the ground.

For all of you that fall into that category- we wish you open weather, no breakdowns and a double measure of safety.

AND- for all- I hope you will take a moment at some point this weekend and say a prayer of thanks to our Maker for this country and all of those who have given their lives to make it "the land of the free and the home of the brave."

See you back in your inbox on Tuesday morning!