Farms.com Home   Ag Industry News

Promoting U.S. ag products abroad

Promoting U.S. ag products abroad

The USDA has two trade missions planned in October

By Diego Flammini
Staff Writer
Farms.com

Representatives from the public and private sectors will travel overseas this month to promote U.S. farm products.

The USDA has two trade missions scheduled in October.

The first, which kicked off Oct. 15 in Vietnam, involves about 80 U.S. delegates who will meet with buyers from Vietnam, Thailand and Burma.

All three of those countries have been good customers for the U.S. industry, and the trade delegation hopes to further strengthen those relationships.

“The size of this trade mission delegation speaks to the phenomenal potential that exists for U.S. exporters in Vietnam and surrounding countries,” Ted McKinney, undersecretary for trade and foreign agricultural affairs, said in an Oct. 11 statement. “Since the United States normalized relations with Vietnam in 1995, our agricultural exports have grown exponentially, reaching a record (US)$4 billion last year.

“Sales of U.S. food and farm products to Thailand and Burma also set records in 2018, topping (US)$2.1 billion and (US)$126 million, respectively.”

While in Vietnam, the American representatives will promote specific commodities.

The reps will highlight U.S. corn, for example, to the Burmese delegation.

“Due to the rapid expansion of the Burmese livestock industry, experts predict increases in corn imports for feeding purposes,” a trade mission information document says. “In 2018, Burma imported (US)$1.1 million in corn from the world, and (US)$384,000 from the United States.”

The trade mission in Vietnam wraps up Friday.

The second ag trip takes place from Oct. 28 to 31 in Accra, Ghana and will include customers from the Ivory Coast, Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal and Gambia.

The U.S. visitors will promote soybean products, wheat, beef, dairy and other goods to the African delegations.

Farms.com has reached out to the U.S. Grains Council and U.S. Soybean Export Council for comment.


Trending Video

Demco Dual Aguer Grain Carts — Fire Safety Systems, Right or Left-Handed Unload, and More!

Video: Demco Dual Aguer Grain Carts — Fire Safety Systems, Right or Left-Handed Unload, and More!


Demco's dual auger grain cart is designed for unloading efficiency, operator visibility, and safety in the field.

This dual-auger design features both an unload auger and a floor auger for enhanced grain cleanout and consistent flow, and the 22-inch unload auger is capable of moving up to 600 bushels per minute.

Farmers can also choose between right or left-handed unload options—right-handed unload improves visibility from the tractor cab. A new design allows both vertical and horizontal movement for precise grain placement during unloading.

Another key feature is the built-in fire safety system; a 300-gallon onboard water tank with a hose reel that provides field-ready fire suppression capability.

These dual auger grain carts are available in 1100, 1300, 1500, 1700, and 2200 bushel sizes.