USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service’s Global Agricultural Information Network reports that Mexico has become one of our largest and fastest-growing trading partners. The report shows exports of consumer-oriented products to Mexico reached almost 6.5-billion dollars in 2010 – making the country the United States’ third-largest export market. U.S. agricultural and food exports to Mexico have been climbing at an average rate of almost 10-percent per year.

During the first 10 calendar months of 2011 – U.S. exports to Mexico were up 27-percent – while Mexican exports to the United States were up 17-percent from the previous year. At the same time – the U.S. market accounts for 75-percent of all Mexican exports – while the United States provides Mexico with 61-percent of its imports. Fresh fruit and vegetables account for the largest share of Mexican imports to the United States at 42-percent of the total.

According to the GAIN report – in terms of value – beef is America’s top consumer-oriented food export to Mexico. Even without full market access for some products – such as ground beef – in 2010 the U.S. exported 1.64-million metric tons of beef valued at 644-million dollars to the country. The five-year annual growth rate in beef exports to Mexico is 25-percent. Still – poultry tops beef in volume of exports to Mexico – 2.5-million metric tons in 2010 – but at a lower value total of 595-million dollars.

Courtesy: NAFB News

U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk has announced important progress with Japan on a range of trade and regulatory issues as well as on new areas of joint cooperation. Working through the U.S.-Japan Economic Harmonization Initiative – Kirk says Japan has improved the business environment and expanded access for a broad range of U.S. goods and services. These goods include agricultural products.

Ambassador Kirk welcomed the progress which – expands job-supporting business and export opportunities for American entrepreneurs, workers, manufacturers and service providers. Kirk says addressing issues of concern and working closely together to advance new areas of cooperation will further deepen the United States’ relationship with Japan – a strong ally and the nation’s fourth largest export market. The EHI – launched in November 2010 – aims to contribute to U.S. economic growth by promoting cooperation to harmonize approaches that facilitate trade, address business climate and individual issues and advance coordination on regional issues of common interest.

Coutesty: NAFB News

USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service reports the January 1 Cattle Inventory is down two-percent.  All cattle and calves in the United States totaled 90.8-million head. This is the lowest January 1 inventory since the 88.1-million on hand in 1952. All cows and heifers that have calved were down two-percent, beef cows were down three-percent and milk cows were up one-percent. The 2011 calf crop was estimated at 35.3-million head – down one-percent from 2010.  This is the smallest calf crop since 1950.

Jim Robb – Director of at the Livestock Marketing Information Center in Denver – says the record Texas drought certainly was the game changer.  As feedstuffs were at record-high costs – the herd on a national basis declined. Akshay Jagdale – a New York-based analyst at KeyBanc Capital Markets – says beef processors may have to adjust plant capacity as cattle supplies shrink. He says higher beef prices will boost revenue enough to make up for the rise in costs from shrinking supplies.

Courtesy: NAFB News

A Saint Joseph police officer was assaulted during a confrontation at a party early Sunday morning.

Police say Officers Jason Wilhoit and Matt Kneib were surrounded by a hostile crowd in the 25-hundred block of Angelique.

Wilhoit was hit with a beer bottle and punched several times in the face.

Officer Kneib pushed Wilhoit and his assailant into a bathroom to keep the rest of the crowd away. When backup arrived the crowd dispersed, but as officers left with suspects under arrest, the crowd pelted them with rocks. Five suspects were arrested, three of them on charges of felony assault on a law enforcement officer. Officer Wilhoit was treated and released for head injuries.

Three men were are charged with Class-C felony assault of a law enforcement officer. They are Miguel Villegas, 32, Jose Rodriguez-Delgado, 22, Luis Oliveras, 21 all of St. Joseph. Two other people were charged with a city noise violation: 24-year-old Yusniel Roseales, and Marissa Wilkerson, age 20.