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USDA Deputy Under Secretary Taylor Leads Women in Agriculture Trade Mission to Hong Kong and Shanghai

 
Leaders from seven state departments of agriculture and 23 U.S. agribusinesses and organizations will accompany Deputy Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agriculture Services Alexis Taylor on a trade mission to Hong Kong and Shanghai Sept. 7 to Sept. 15 to extend USDA's Women in Agriculture initiative abroad and expand export opportunities for U.S. food and agricultural products.
 
"USDA is committed to building opportunities for women to grow, learn from one another and lead within their industries," said Taylor. "Women in agriculture have a powerful story to tell – one of leadership, stewardship and resilience – from the combine, to the classroom, to the boardroom. This trade mission provides us an opportunity to discuss the impacts women in the United States and China are having on agriculture and to share our visions for the next generation. In addition, I look forward to joining U.S. agricultural leaders as we seek to enhance our trading opportunities in this region."
 
The United States has strong trading relations with both China and Hong Kong. Last year, China was the second-largest market for U.S. agricultural exports reaching $23.5 billion. Sustained high demand for bulk commodities such as soybeans and cotton continues, and demand for high-value food, meat and alcohol products is surging. Next year, China is projected to return as the United States' top export market.
 
In contrast to China, where more than 70 percent of U.S. exports are bulk commodities, more than 90 percent of U.S. exports to Hong Kong are high-value, consumer-oriented products. With a population of more than 7.2 million people packed into 426 square miles, Hong Kong relies on imports for more than 95 percent of its food supply. It is the United States' seventh-largest market, with top U.S. exports including tree nuts, beef, poultry and fresh fruit.
 
Mission participants come from across the United States and represent a range of agricultural products and commodities. They will meet with potential customers and host government representatives, forging relationships and learning about the market conditions and business environment.
 
Participating U.S. Organizations and Companies:
 
1. American Commodity Company, LLC, Williams, Calif.
 
2. Bridgepathway, LLC, Jericho, N.Y.
 
3. Cape Blanco Cranberries, Inc., Port Orford, Ore.
 
4. Dragonberry Produce, Inc., Canby, Ore.
 
5. Earthbound Farm, San Juan Bautista, Calif.
 
6. Green Plains, Inc., Omaha, Neb.
 
7. Halcyon Trading Company, LLC, Alpharetta, Ga.
 
8. Hidden Villa Ranch, Fullerton, Calif.
 
9. Katzen International, Inc., Cincinnati, Ohio
 
10. Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Lansing, Mich.
 
11. Midwest Trading, LLC, Bloomington, Minn.
 
12. Minxta, LLC, Miami Beach, Fla.
 
13. Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce, Jackson, Miss.
 
14. Momentum Feed and Energy, LLC, Houston, Texas
 
15. Moore Brothers Beef, Inc., Red Springs, N.C.
 
16. National Cattlemen's Beef Association, Centennial, Colo.
 
17. National Corn Growers Association, Chesterfield, Mo.
 
18. Ocean Spray International, Inc., Lakeville, Mass.
 
19. Oklahoma Department of Agriculture Food and Forestry, Oklahoma City, Okla.
 
20. Oregon Department of Agriculture, Salem, Ore.
 
21. Redbud Farm and Vineyard, Washington, Okla.
 
22. Southern United States Trade Association, New Orleans, La.
 
23. Tennessee Department of Agriculture, Nashville, Tenn.
 
24. TRC Trading Corporation, Roseville, Calif.
 
25. United Global Trading, Dallas, Texas
 
26. U.S. Grains Council, Washington, D.C.
 
27. U.S. International Foods, LLC, St. Louis, Mo.
 
28. U.S. Soybean Export Council, Chesterfield, Mo.
 
29. Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Richmond, Va.
 
30. Washington State Department of Agriculture, Olympia, Wash.
 
USDA trade missions open doors and deliver results for U.S. exporters, giving them the opportunity to gather market intelligence and develop strategies to start or expand their sales in key markets overseas. For more information, visit www.fas.usda.gov/topics/trade-missions.
 
The past seven years have represented the strongest period in history for U.S. agricultural exports, with international sales of food and farm products totaling $911.4 billion between fiscal years 2009 and 2015. In fiscal year 2015, American farmers and ranchers exported $139.7 billion of food and agricultural goods to consumers worldwide. Exports are responsible for 20 percent of U.S. farm income, also driving rural economic activity and supporting more than one million American jobs.
 
Source : USDA

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The FCDC and AgSmart Bring Plant Breeding to a Wider Audience

Video: The FCDC and AgSmart Bring Plant Breeding to a Wider Audience

In the vast prairies of Alberta, Olds College’s Field Crop Development Centre (FCDC) stands as a beacon of innovation and research in the agricultural world. The institution has become a key player in advancing agricultural technologies and practices. The FCDC’s commitment to applied research has driven them to seek effective means of disseminating their findings and creating a positive impact on the farming community.

One such avenue that aligns with their mission is AgSmart, an event dedicated to showcasing cutting-edge agricultural technologies. The coming together of the FCDC’s annual Field Day and Ag Smart has proved to be a natural fit, fostering a synergy that benefits both parties and propels the agriculture industry forward. The FCDC Field Day took part in conjunction with AgSmart for the first time this week on Aug. 1-2 in Olds, Alta. FCDC Program Director Kofi Agblor and Olds College VP of Development Todd Ormann sat down for an interview with Marc Zienkiewicz to discuss the significance of the two events taking part together and what the future holds.

The Intersection of Research and Technology The essence of the FCDC lies in its dedication to plant breeding and new seed varieties, particularly barley and triticale. While conducting research is essential, it becomes meaningful when its benefits are shared with the wider community. This is where AgSmart steps in, providing a key venue for the FCDC to showcase their research. This union between research and technology creates a holistic and enriching experience for farmers, ranchers, and industry professionals, the pair said.

Seeds as Technology For the FCDC, the partnership with AgSmart goes beyond mere event collaboration. It is about creating an environment that bridges the gap between seeds and smart technology, Ormann said. The college believes that for technology to truly revolutionize agriculture, it must begin with a strong foundation — high-quality seeds. As the saying goes, “it all starts with a seed.” To demonstrate this critical aspect, the collaboration aims to showcase the seed value chain as an integral part of the smartphone.

The Birth of a Powerful Alliance The idea of joining forces emerged when staff realized the potential synergy between AgSmart and the FCDC Field Day. With just a few days separating the two events, a proposal was put forward to merge them. The marketing and communications teams from both sides worked seamlessly to ensure the essence of both events remained intact, creating a powerful alliance that leverages the strengths of each, Agblor said.

Driving Advancements in Breeding For Agblor, the partnership with AgSmart has tremendous potential to drive advancements in breeding and other technology. With technologies like drones and imaging becoming integral to phenotyping, breeding is no longer confined to vast fields to assess thousands of plants manually. Instead, it benefits from the data-rich insights brought about by smart technologies. These advancements make breeding more efficient, precise, and instrumental in shaping the future of agriculture.

Overcoming Challenges Together While the partnership between Olds College and Ag Smart has been a resounding success, there are challenges on the horizon. Securing stable funding for long-term breeding initiatives is crucial to sustain progress. The college is committed to navigating these challenges and investing in agriculture’s future sustainably, Agblor said.