The US Grains Council says US exports of all feed grains from September through March of this marketing year totaled 51.4 million metric tons, down 7 percent from the same time last year. Higher exports of DDGS, corn gluten feed, corn gluten meal, sorghum, and pork working to offset weaker exports of corn, barley, beef, poultry, and ethanol. Last marketing year, US feed grain exports in all forms totaled a near record 100 million tons, representing 26 percent of US production in corn, barley, and sorghum. This year, the US Grains Council expects that total to be lower, somewhere between 93-96 million tons. While US corn exports have struggled against a strong dollar and larger than expected overseas supplies, DDGS have been a bright spot. Shipments of dried distiller’s grains with solubles are up 18 percent over last year. The corn co-product may have the potential to reach record amounts of exports this year with broad-based gains in 7 of the top 10 export markets.

Beef and pork exports rebounded in March, increasing year-over-year volume. The U.S. Meat Export Federation says March export values were lower than a year ago but trended upward, with both pork and beef exports reaching a 2016 high. The lower values are a direct result from softer market prices this year. Beef exports totaled 89,000 some metric tons in March, up three percent from a year ago and pushing first-quarter volume two percent higher than last year. March export value was $483 million for beef, down eight percent from a year ago but the highest since December. For the first quarter, export value was $1.36 billion, down 13 percent from the same period last year. March pork exports were the largest in 11 months at 195,000 some metric tons, up three percent compared to this time last year. First-quarter exports also increased two percent. March export value, $480 million, was down three percent from a year ago but the highest since May 2015. First-quarter export value totaled $1.3 billion, nine percent below last year’s pace.

After two weeks of online voting, Kentucky farmer Mary Courtney was announced Thursday as America’s Farmers Mom of the Year. Courtney, who started her farm with her husband, now grows corn, soybeans and vegetables on their family farm and raise cattle. Mary was one of five women who were recognized at the end of April as a regional finalist in the program. All of the finalists were selected by both the American Agri-Women Association and Monsanto for their dedication and commitment to their families, farms, communities and the agriculture industry. All five women will receive $5,000. Courtney will receive an additional $5,000 for securing the most votes to be named the national Farm Mom of the Year.

More than 800,000 thousand acres of farmland were enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program in the latest sign-up period, according to USDA. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the enrollment figure Thursday from the program’s 49th sign-up period. The program pays farmers to idle marginally productive land to enhance conservation efforts. USDA says the CRP program provides nearly $2 billion annually to landowners. Vilsack says over the past 30 years, “CRP has created major environmental improvements throughout the countryside.” The most recent sign-up period was one of the most selective, according to USDA. As of March 2016, 23.8 million acres were enrolled in CRP, with 1.7 million acres set to expire this fall.

China estimates the country’s corn planting area will fall for the first time in 13 years as the nation prepares to end its corn stockpiling program. Planting area of corn in China is expected to fall more than one million hectares, or three million acres, this year. The planting area announcement comes as global markets are bracing for the fallout from China ending the nation’s corn stockpiling program, according to Reuters. China has nearly 250 million metric tons of corn in storage, and the markets are closely watching how the country plans to dispose of the stockpile. China could choose to export the surplus corn, causing a shakeup of the global corn export market. An agriculture official from China said this week that “During this reform process, and as the corn market changes, we must ensure that farmers remain positive about growing.” The support program helped boost China’s corn planted area to 37 million hectares last year. However, with the program ending, farmers there are expected to switch to other crops, including soybeans.

The National Association of Egg Farmers Wednesday charged the cage-free egg trend as being based on misinformation. The claims came as 7-Eleven announced it would become the latest company to switch to cage-free eggs. The convenience store chain expects to complete the change by the year 2025. While the idea of cage-free chickens produces a thought that cage-free leads to better animal welfare and better quality eggs, the National Association of Egg Farmers wants consumers to know that this is simply not true. The Association says removing chickens from cages will lead to more on-farm deaths of chickens because the birds establish a literal “pecking order.” Further, the Association says cage-free eggs are more likely to be contaminated with bacteria due to prolonged exposure to litter and manure. Finally, the Association says the amount of dust in cage-free facilities presents a human health concern to farm workers because the dust can transmit pathogens. The Association says the cage-free trend will force smaller chicken farms out of business because they will struggle with the estimated $40 per bird production increase.