Chris Chinn, a fifth generation Missouri farmer from Clarence, was named Director of the Missouri Department of Agriculture in January 2017 by Missouri Governor Eric R. Greitens and confirmed by the Senate this week. Director Chinn has held leadership positions in agriculture on the local, state and national level for more than 12 years, working to move the state’s agriculture industry forward. As a trailblazer in ag advocacy, Chinn has established her brand through social media and public speaking. Her blog and Twitter audiences have attracted more than 10,000 faithful followers who have tuned in to hear her farm story. Through her outreach, she stands up for both rural and urban Missouri by bridging the gap between farmers and consumers and contributes to the advancement of the state’s No. 1 industry.

The Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City’s Agricultural Survey shows a moderate decline in cash rents and farmland values in the fourth quarter of 2016. Tenth-District Bankers in seven states note that weakness in farm income is having a negative impact on farmland value. Nonirrigated and irrigated farmland value dropped six percent on average and ranchland values were seven percent lower over the same period. Cash rents for both irrigated and nonirrigated cropland dropped eight percent last year while ranchland cash rents were 12 percent lower in the fourth quarter of last year. Credit conditions also weakened because of lower farm income and bankers have responded by adopting some risk prevention measures. Some measures include increasing interest rates for all variable and fixed-rate farm loans. Over 30 percent of bankers reported increasing collateral requirements, which is the largest share in survey history. Although a credit shortage appears unlikely for now, marginal operations will find it harder to obtain credit at the same pace as when the farm economy was stronger.

The U.S. Grains Council, along with the Renewable Fuels Association and Growth Energy, are asking for help in addressing China’s recent implementation of protectionist trade barriers that are shutting out U.S. exports of ethanol and distillers dried grains. Specifically, the three groups are asking the incoming U.S. Trade Representative to put China’s recent actions near the top of the administration’s China trade agenda. Last September, China imposed a preliminary anti-dumping duty of 33.8 percent against U.S. DDGS and a countervailing duty of 10 to 10.7 percent. In a final ruling last month, China increased its DDGS anti-dumping duty to 42.2 to 53.7 percent and its DDGS countervailing duty to 11.2 to 12 percent. Additionally, the tariffs on U.S. ethanol have increased from five percent to 30 to 40 percent. The letter written to President Donald Trump states: “It is widely believed that raising these tariffs will put an immediate end to ethanol exports to China.” The groups ask the tariff rates be included in any potential upcoming trade negotiations with China.

Pork exports in 2016 reached record volume levels while pork and beef exports overall finished the year strong. The U.S. Meat Export Federation says beef and pork exports finished the year with strong December results. Pork export volume reached a record 2.31 million metric tons in 2016, up eight percent year-over-year, and two percent above the previous high in 2012. Export value increased seven percent from a year ago, to $5.94 billion. December pork exports totaled 222,000-some million metric tons, up 18 percent year-over-year, valued at $564.2 million, up 20 percent. Beef exports increased 11 percent in volume to 1.19 million metric tons and one percent in value to $6.34 billion from 2015. December exports totaled more than 116,000 million metric tons, up 24 percent year-over-year. This was the largest monthly volume since July 2013 and the largest ever for December. Export value was $619.1 million in December, up 22 percent. Overall, exports accounted for 25.8 percent of total U.S. pork production and 13.7 percent of total U.SA. beef production in 2016.

The U.S. House Agriculture Committee will hold a hearing next week that will help set the stage for the next farm bill. The full committee hearing, Rural Economic Outlook: Setting the Stage for the Next Farm Bill, is planned for Wednesday, February 15th. The hearing represents the beginning stages of developing the next farm bill and follows through on House Agriculture Committee Chairman Mike Conaway’s comments in regards to continuing discussions on the next farm bill. The Chairman is also seeking floor time in front of the full U.S. House for the farm bill later this year, if the legislative schedule allows. The hearing comes just a week before the first field hearing held by the Senate Agriculture Committee, which will hold a hearing February 23rd in Manhattan, Kansas.

The Department of Agriculture expects net farm income in 2017 to drop 8.7 percent, compared with 2016. For 2017, the USDA Economic Research Service predicts net farm income will fall to $62.3 billion, down 49.6 percent from the 2013 record high of more than $120 billion. Following several years of record highs, net farm income trended downward from 2013 to 2016. Net farm income is a conventional measure of agricultural sector profitability that is used as part of the U.S. Gross Domestic Product calculation. The expected decline in 2017 net farm income is driven by a forecast reduction in the value of farm production. Crop value of production is forecast down $9.2 billion, or 4.9 percent, while the value of production of animals and animal products is forecast to decline by less than $1 billion, or .5 percent.

North Dakota Democrat, Senator Heidi Heitkamp this week endorsed Agriculture Secretary nominee Sonny Perdue. Heitkamp is the first Democrat in the Senate to endorse President Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Department of Agriculture. Heitkamp, who was also reportedly considered for the post, met with Perdue earlier this week and says she looks forward to confirming him to the cabinet position. Heitkamp backed 2016 Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton over Trump, and says she discussed trade with Cuba during her 45-minute meeting with Perdue, according to The Hill. The Agriculture Committee has not yet scheduled a confirmation hearing for Perdue, who served as Georgia’s governor from 2003 to 2011. However, a confirmation hearing for Perdue is expected sometime later this month.

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and the National Pork Producers Council are calling on President Donald Trump to begin trade talks with Japan. In a joint letter to the White House, NCBA and NPPC asked the President to “initiate free trade agreement negotiations with nations in the Asia-Pacific region beginning with Japan.” The letter was separate from a similar letter regarding trade sent to the President by more than 80 agriculture groups. The letter comes as Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s (sheen-zoh ah-bay) will visit the United States on Friday to meet with President Trump. NCBA President Craig Uden (you-den) says: “A successful, comprehensive agreement with Japan would result in one of the greatest trade agreements for the U.S. pork and beef industries and for many other sectors.” For U.S. beef and pork exports, Japan is the highest value international market.