wheat

**Maintaining the duty-free status on U.S. Ag exports to Mexico and Canada is one of the key objectives for U.S. representatives preparing to begin renegotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement. That’s according to a list of goals by the U...

**USDA requirements for exporting U.S. beef to China are out, opening a key market that’s been closed for more than 13 years. The U.S. Meat Export Federation’s Thad Lively says the requirements for China still go beyond those imposed by most international destinations, and will include testing for residues from synthetic hormones and beta agonists...

**A major generational shift is beginning to impact how beef is displayed and sold, forcing grocers to adapt and keep up with new preferences. Marketing professional can attest to the purchasing power of millennials, the generation born between 1982 and 2004, and are trying to figure out how to curry their favor...

* The U.S. and Mexico announced a preliminary agreement on a new system to regulate the flow of Mexican sugar into the U.S., but the U.S. sugar refiners and farmers are not supporting the deal. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross says the Mexican side agreed to nearly every request made by the U...

**A market research firm says U.S. meat sales will reach nearly $100 billion dollars by 2021. “Packaged Facts” reports demand for animal protein will continue to grow in the face of challenges from plant-based protein alternatives. The study examines current and predicted topics including consumer attitudes, value-added products, and animal welfare...

**A foot of snow fell on a good chunk of the western Kansas wheat crop last weekend, striking a devastating blow to a region known for robust wheat production. It was one of several weather events this week that delayed planting, flooded fields and caused farmers to rethink planting mixes...

** Expecting higher prices, U.S. cotton farmers are planning to sow 12.2 million acres this year, up 21 percent from last year. Friday’s USDA report says the estimate is also up from the 11.5 million acres predicted at February’s annual Outlook Forum...

**Farm incomes continue to drop and producers are having tougher times paying back loans, but the overarching agricultural credit system remains strong and bankers are doing what they can to help borrowers survive. That was the cohesive message presented by some of the biggest names in farm banking to members of the House Agriculture Committee last week as lawmakers look ahead to the 2018 farm bil

The Trump administration is considering a 20% tax on Mexican imports to finance a border wall … and that has U.S. farm groups worrying about retaliation and possibly losing a major foreign market for rice, wheat, dairy, pork and many other Ag commodities...

Chief Ag negotiator for the office of US Trade, Representative Darci Vetter wants the playing field with China leveled for American farmers. The Obama Administration has accused China of failing to meet its World Trade Organization market access commitments for rice, wheat, and corn and recently issued a trade enforcement challenge...