USDA trade mission happening in Africa

Nov 17, 2015

Mission will take place until November 20th

United States Agriculture Deputy Secretary Krysta Harden is leading a mission to Africa’s Sub-Saharan region that’s scheduled to wrap up on November 20^th.

Sub-Saharan region of Africa

The mission’s objectives include trying to provide the United States with more export opportunities when it comes to food and other agricultural products.

"Sub-Saharan Africa's strong economic outlook, growing middle class, and surging demand for consumer-oriented foods creates a promising market for U.S. food and agricultural products," Harden said. "Over the past decade, U.S. agricultural exports to this region increased by more than 50 percent, totaling $2.3 billion in 2014."

Accompanying Harden on the mission are representatives from Arkansas, Kansas, Nebraska, North Carolina and Texas departments of agriculture. In addition to the political attendees, 22 American companies and four agricultural commodity trade organizations are attending the trade mission.

Represented organizations include The American Soybean Association, USA Rice Federation, Case New Holland and Industrial and Food Export Association of the Midwest USA.

Grains, feeds, peanuts, soybeans, meat, poultry and machinery interests are all being represented on the mission.

The delegation will interact with potential customers representing more than 12 countries in the region and work to develop relationships, learn about market conditions and business environments. The gathered information will be used to create key strategies when it comes to trade in Africa’s Sub-Saharan region.

The top Sub-Saharan export markets for agricultural products in 2014 were:

Nigeria ($847 million)
Angola ($298 million)
South Africa ($259 million)
Ghana ($129 million)
Ethiopia ($83 million)
Kenya ($69 million)

Join the discussion and tell us your thoughts about the USDA trying to expand export markets for agricultural products. Are you excited about the opportunities it could provide?

Video: Did Bears Win Thanksgiving, Will Bulls Get Christmas?

Did the bears win Thanksgiving (although this week had green on the screen), and will the bulls get Christmas? Bears won thanksgiving thanks to a USDA Nov crop report dud that stalled the bullish grain momentum for a brief period. But a bullish lower yield surprise in the Dec crop report could reignite the rally.
2026 U.S. winter wheat planting is nearly complete at 97% while crop conditions improved by 3 points to 48% good-to-excellent. US corn & soybean harvest is complete.
High corn demand, which is off the chart, and more Chinese soybean demand could support a Christmas rally.
Nasdaq had it’s worst November since 2011.
A U.S. Fed rate cut in December will help fund flow and sentiment.
Bitcoin held a long-term support at 80,000 and that's positive for fund flow and sentiment. It should help stock prices and Ag as we go into December.
Fertilizer prices continue to climb as we look ahead to 2026. Farmers may rely more on the nutrients that they already have in their soils.
South American Weather remains critical as the soybean reproductive stage starts from late Nov to late Feb depending on planting date.
Will a Russia-Ukraine peace deal happen by year-end?
CFTC data as of showed more managed money fund sell-off as of October 14th.