USDA Undersecretary Ted McKinney is Upbeat on Completing USMCA and Reaching the Phase One Deal with China

Ted McKinney, U.S. Department of Agriculture Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agriculture Affairs, spoke on Friday in Lucas Oil Stadium to the 2019 National FFA Convention- offering greetings from USDA on behalf of US Secretary of Ag Sonny Perdue, who was unable to attend the 2019 Convention.

 

After his remarks, Radio Oklahoma Ag Network Farm Director Ron Hays caught up with McKinney backstage- and they talked the key trade issues impacting US farmers and ranchers. McKiney shared that he is very hopeful that a vote to ratify the USMCA will happen this calendar year. He worries that the official transmission of the new trade deal has not yet been sent to Congress- and that could still be a roadblock. Still, he remains optimistic that Trade Ambassdor Lighthizer and the House Democrats will come to a solution which will result in a vote.

 

Video: USDA Feb Crop Report a WIN for Soybeans + 1 Year Trade Truce Extension

USDA took Trumps comments that China would buy more U.S. soybeans seriously and headline news that the U.S./China trade truce would be extended when Trump/Xi meet in the first week of April was a BIG WIN for soybeans this week! 2026 “Mini” U.S. ethanol boom thanks to 45Z + China’s ban of phosphates from Feb. – August of 2026 will not help lower fertilizer prices anytime soon! 30 mmt of Chinese corn harvest is of poor quality and maybe a technical breakout in wheat futures.

*Apologies! Where we talk about the latest CFTC update as of 10th Feb 2026, managed money funds covered their net short position in canola to the tune of +42,746 week-on-week to flip to net long 145 contracts and not (as we mistakenly said) +90,009 wk/wk to 47,408.