U.S. pork exports remained ahead of last year’s record volume pace, and beef exports are poised to break $7 billion this year for only the second time. The U.S. Meat Export Federation says October pork exports were the largest since May, totaling 211,500 metric tons, up five percent from a year ago, valued at $565.4 million. Through the first ten months of the year, pork exports increased eight percent in volume and ten percent in value from the same period last year. Meanwhile, beef exports reached 111,000 metric tons in October, up five percent from a year ago, valued at $662 million. These were the second-largest monthly totals of 2017, trailing only August. For January through October, exports totaled 1.038 million metric tons, up nine percent year-over-year, valued at $5.93 billion.

(NCGA) Farmers and ranchers across the country took to Twitter on Wednesday to let the President and other administration officials know that staying in the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) is a win for farmers. Corn growers from around the United States tweeted about the economic benefits of NAFTA, which supports 25,000 corn industry jobs and stimulates the rural economy. For the past twenty-three years, NAFTA has been a landmark trade success story for U.S. agriculture, particularly grains. U.S. corn and corn products (ethanol, DDGs and corn gluten feed) have duty free access to Mexico and Canada under NAFTA. Mexico has become the number one trading partner for U.S. corn, buying 25 percent of all exports. Since 1994, U.S. corn exports to NAFTA partners have increased more than seven-fold. In the 2015-2016 marketing year alone, U.S. exports of corn to Mexico and Canada totaled more than 14 million metric tons, valued at $2.68 billion. For America’s corn growers, this market access can mean the difference between profit and loss. Corn and corn product exports are responsible for 33 percent of growers’ gross farm income. “Farmers and ranchers from all sectors are sending a powerful message to the President about the importance of remaining in NAFTA,” said NCGA President Kevin Skunes. “America’s corn growers stand with the Administration as it negotiates an improved trade agreement, but it must ensure that these vital markets remain open to U.S. agricultural exports.” Agricultural exports are a major driver of the U.S. economy with far-reaching benefits for farmers, American workers and consumers. They support more than one million American jobs and every dollar of agricultural exports creates an additional $1.27 in business activity. The fifth round of NAFTA negotiations wrapped up in November. Informal discussions are expected in December, leading up to the sixth round of formal negotiations January 23-28, 2018.

Republican Senator Jerry Moran of Kansas and North Dakota Democrat Heidi Heitkamp are spearheading a bipartisan effort to make sure the Electronic Logging Device mandate for livestock haulers is delayed one year. A group of Senators wrote to Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer expressing support for the delay that was written into the House-passed transportation bill. The delay of the ELD mandate is set for one year, which should give haulers time to work with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration on the strict hours-of-service rules that truckers have to live by. U.S. Cattlemen’s Association Transportation Committee Chair Steve Hilker thanked each Senator that signed the letter. “We’re hauling a living, breathing commodity that must get to its destination as soon as possible after it’s loaded onto the truck,” says Hilker. “An ELD would only increase the number of stops, thereby keeping cattle in the trailer longer. It would only add to what is already a stressful time in the animals’ lives. The comfort and safety of our cargo is of utmost importance.” He adds that the U.S. Cattlemen’s Association appreciates that Congress recognizes the need for additional flexibility within the rule.

(MODoA) The Missouri State Fair was recently recognized as one of the best in the world by the International Association of Fairs and Expositions.

During the recent IAFE Convention, the Missouri State Fair was recognized for excellence in agriculture education, sponsorship, competitive exhibits and communications. Among the more than 30 awards received, the Missouri State Fair was recognized for excellence in agriculture education with the prestigious Agriculture Sweepstakes Award and excellence in sponsorship activation with the Best of Division Award. The Fair also received first place awards for the Drive to Feed Kids partnership, renovations to the historic Swine Barn and for the 2017 marketing campaign, among others.

The Fair was judged alongside other IAFE fair members of similar size, ranging in attendance from 250,000 to 500,000. A complete list of awards received can be viewed on the Fair’s website.

IAFE, based in Springfield, Mo., is a voluntary, nonprofit corporation, serving state, provincial, regional, and county agricultural fairs, shows, exhibitions, and expositions. Its associate members include state and provincial associations of fairs, non-agricultural expositions and festivals, associations, corporations, and individuals engaged in providing products and services to its members, all of whom are interested in the improvement of fairs, shows, expositions, and allied fields.

(UWA) The World Trade Organization will hold its Eleventh WTO Ministerial Conference Dec. 10 to 13, 2017, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. In a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, U.S. Wheat Associates and 13 other U.S. farm organizations urged the United States to defend the interests of U.S. agriculture. Specifically, the letter describes industry stances on public stockholding and domestic support, while underscoring the importance of an effective dispute settlement mechanism for agriculture. First addressing attempts to weaken the WTO Agreement on Agriculture by exempting price support programs tied to public stock procurement, the letter said “Market price support is one of the most trade distorting forms of domestic support for agriculture. Relaxing price support disciplines for certain countries could lead to a much more distorted global marketplace.” The letter pointed out a closely related challenge in the push for new domestic support commitments. “It is surreal to witness attempts to negotiate new domestic support commitments when so many countries have flagrantly ignored current commitments,” the organizations wrote. “Any domestic support outcome should carefully target the deficiencies in the system that led to such enormous abuses.” The groups also credited Ambassador Lighthizer for addressing this problem through the dispute settlement case against China on its non-compliant price support programs for wheat, corn and rice. Finally, the farm organizations expressed strong support for the WTO dispute settlement system and its crucial role addressing some of the major challenges in agricultural markets. They pointed to much improved global trade rules for agriculture following the creation of the WTO and negotiation of new free trade agreements. The groups also expressed concern that U.S. actions to block WTO Appellate Body appointments indefinitely could prevent resolution of current cases and discourage new ones that might benefit U.S. agriculture.

Missouri is leading 13 states to the U.S. Supreme Court to challenge a California law regarding egg production requirements. Missouri Attorney General Josh Hawley announced this week the state would continue its challenge to the California law that requires out-of-state egg producers to comply with California’s farming regulations in order to sell eggs in California. The suit claims that California’s regulations violate both a federal law and the Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution, which gives Congress exclusive authority to regulate commerce among and between states. A federal appeals court panel rejected similar claims last year in a separate case, ruling that the opposition failed to show California’s law would affect more than just individual farmers. Hawley, who is leading the charge as Missouri’s Attorney General and will also run for a U.S. Senate seat next year, says the California law is “a clear attempt by big-government proponents to impose job-killing regulations.” Missouri is joined by Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah, and Wisconsin in the Supreme Court filing.