Ag News: U.S. Pork in South America
**After a record performance in 2017, U.S. pork exports to Central America, South America and the Dominican Republic have continued to gain momentum.
U.S. Meat Export Federation Analyst Jessica Spreitzer says even in markets where domestic pork production is up, consumption is increasing at a faster pace, leading to expanded opportunities for U.S. pork.
Through April, U.S. pork exports to South America are up 23 percent from a year ago in volume to 39,520 metric tons and 24 percent in value to $96.7 million.
**Donald Trump has a point! That’s the rather surprising opinion from Canada’s largest dairy processor, something that’s probably unpopular with the nation’s farmers.
According to agweb.com, Saputo CEO, Lino Saputo Jr says Canada should consider eliminating its Class 7 milk policy in order to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement with the U.S.
Saputo’s comments come just one week after the U.S. President took aim at Canada’s supply-managed dairy system.
**Growers, weed scientists and manufacturers are keeping a close eye on early reports of off-target movement of dicamba, as spraying of the herbicide kicks into full gear in soybean and cotton growing states.
Agri-Pulse reports so far, early season numbers are small following delays in growing caused by cold, rainy weather.
Nevertheless, there’ve been 42 complaints of damage in Missouri, and another 43 in Arkansas, where the state plant board prohibited use of dicamba from April thru October.