USMEF in the News
AgDay Coverage of USMEF Innovation Symposium at Colorado State University
A recent edition of AgDay offered coverage of USMEF’s Global Innovation Symposium, where a team of Latin American importers, distributors and processors came to Colorado State University to learn about U.S. meat industry innovations in food safety, processing, packaging and value-added production.
The segment includes remarks by Dr. David Velasco, director of food science innovation at Colorado Premium, a USMEF member company. Watch HERE.
Market Access Developments for U.S. Pork Examined in National Hog Farmer
In a guest column for National Hog Farmer magazine, USMEF details recent market access developments for U.S. pork. These include an agreement by the European Union to create a duty-free quota for some U.S. pork cuts and Canada’s removal of a 25% retaliatory tariff on U.S. sausages. The article also examines potential market access gains in Southeast Asia and South Africa.
Read the article HERE.
USMEF’s Sabrina Yin Featured in Voices of Success Video Series
Simpol.PH, a lifestyle-focused news platform based in Quezon City, Philippines, recently interviewed USMEF ASEAN Director Sabrina Yin for its Voices of Success video series. Yin explains the role of USMEF in expanding demand for U.S. red meat in the ASEAN region through consumer education efforts and partnerships with chefs and other food industry professionals.
Watch HERE.
Coverage of Market Access Gains for U.S. Bison
Many news outlets reported on recent market access gains for U.S. bison meat, including creation of a duty-free quota for product entering the European Union and the lifting of BSE-related restrictions by Australia. Remarks by Jim Matheson, executive director of the National Bison Association, were covered by:
AgDay Highlights USMEF’s Latin American Product Showcase
In a recent edition of AgDay, anchor Clinton Griffiths highlighted the key role the USMEF Latin American Product Showcase plays in connecting U.S. exporters with prospective buyers from throughout Central and South America and the Caribbean.
The segment include observations from Kevin Rasmussen, an Iowa pork producer who participated in the showcase on behalf of the National Pork Board. Rasmussen was impressed with the quality of buyers the event attracted, and appreciated the opportunity to personally connect with them.
Watch HERE.
Halstrom Explains Importance of U.S.-Japan Trade Agreement on RFD-TV
In late July, the Trump administration announced that the U.S. had reached a trade and investment agreement reached with Japan. In a recent interview aired on RFD-TV, USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom explains the importance of Japan as a reliable, highly-valued trading partner for the U.S. red meat industry. He notes that the White House announcement came as a great relief to many key buyers in Japan, who had been concerned about a prolonged trade impasse between the two countries.
Watch the interview HERE.
USMEF Discusses China’s Trade Barriers with Journal of Commerce
Journal of Commerce recently detailed the impact of U.S.-China trade tensions on market access for U.S. agricultural exports, including red meat and soybeans. Joe Schuele, USMEF senior VP for communications, explains that China’s retaliatory duties are suppressing exports of U.S. pork and beef, but beef is being hit especially hard by China’s failure to renew registrations for most U.S. beef plants.
Read the article HERE.
Montana State University Students’ Visit to Japan Recapped on Montana Ag Live
On a recent edition of Montana Ag Live, Dr. Eric Belasco, professor of agricultural economics at Montana State University (MSU), discusses the recent visit to Japan by a delegation of MSU students and faculty that included meetings with the Japanese meat trade organized by USMEF. The group met with executives from Sojitz Corporation, a major trading company that imports U.S. beef, as well as the lead meat buyer for Ito Yokado, a major Japanese retailer.
Watch the segment HERE.
Ag Industry Leaders Report on USMEF Latin American Product Showcase
Several U.S. ag industry leaders participated in the USMEF Latin American Product Showcase in Guatemala City, and reported on their experience with local media outlets. Examples include:
Will Wise, CEO of the Oregon Beef Council, speaks with Glenn Vaagen of Pacific Northwest Ag Network.
Kentucky Soybean Board member Bill Clift spoke with veteran farm broadcaster Alan Watts about the event in this edition of YourAgEdge.
United Soybean Board Director and Kansas soybean farmer Charles Atkinson discusses the event in this press release from the Kansas Soybean Association
USMEF Chair Steve Hanson Reports from Latin American Product Showcase in Guatemala
USMEF Chair Steve Hanson, a rancher, cattle feeder and grain farmer from southwestern Nebraska, spoke with Susan Littlefield of American Ag Network from the USMEF Latin American Product Showcase in Guatemala City. Hanson offered his observations as a first-time attendee of the event, as well has his thoughts on the Latin American region’s rapidly growing appetite for high-quality beef and pork. Watch the interview HERE.
While in Guatemala City, Hanson also connected with Steve White of the Nebraska-based Rural Radio Network. Listen HERE.
Halstrom Details June Export Results with Jesse Allen of Agriculture of America
USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom provided his analysis of the latest (June) exports with Agriculture of America host Jesse Allen. He explained that Mexico, Central America and Colombia led strong results for U.S. pork, and pork variety meat shipments rebounded to China. The news was not as positive for beef, due in large part to the vast majority of U.S. plants being ineligible. Halstrom and Allen also discussed the recently announced trade framework with Japan and the state of U.S.-China trade negotiations.
Listen to the segment HERE.
Progressive Farmer Coverage of Midwest Agricultural Export Summit
Progressive Farmer’s coverage of the Midwest Agricultural Export Summit, held Aug. 13 in Sioux Falls, S.D., included comments from USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom on the recently announced trade deals with Japan, Indonesia and the United Kingdom, as well as the beef trade impasse with China.
Read the article HERE.
USMEF Discusses China’s Beef Safeguard Investigation with Reuters
China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) recently announced it will extend its beef safeguard investigation through Nov. 26. China had been expected to release the MOFCOM investigation report in early August, with specific actions to be announced later.
In an interview with Reuters, USMEF explained that while the extension comes as welcome news, restoring the eligibility of U.S. beef plants to export to China is a much more pressing issue. Since February, China has failed to renew registrations for the vast majority of U.S. beef plants.
AgDay Details USMEF’s Market Access Concerns in Africa and Jamaica
In a recent AgDay segment, program anchor Clinton Griffiths highlighted USMEF’s comments to USTR on market access obstacles in South Africa and Nigeria. The comments, submitted as part of USTR’s annual review of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), were detailed by USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom.
The segment also discusses USMEF comments to USTR on Jamaica’s longstanding ban on U.S. pork.
Coverage of these issues was also provided by MEAT+POULTRY Magazine.
Oklahoma Farm Report Examines Beef Exports to EU and UK with USMEF’s Erin Borror
At the Cattle Industry Summer Business Meeting in San Diego, Erin Borror, USMEF VP for economic analysis, spoke with Oklahoma Farm Report about the complexities involved in exporting U.S. beef to the European Union and the United Kingdom. She explains to Ron Hays, the network’s senior farm and ranch broadcaster, that the U.S. industry regained some duty-free access to the UK through the new U.S.-UK trade framework. But non-tariff barriers still make Europe an expensive market to serve, as evidenced by modest utilization of the EU’s duty-free beef quota. Borror also discusses exports to the Middle East and Africa.
Listen to the interview HERE.
RFD-TV: USMEF Discusses U.S. Beef Access to Australia, Trade Deals with Japan and Indonesia
In a recent interview for RFD-TV’s Market Day Report, news anchor Suzanne Alexander spoke with Joe Schuele, USMEF senior VP for communications, about the Australian market opening to U.S. beef for the first time in more than 20 years.
Schuele also explains the potential benefits the U.S.-Indonesia trade framework could hold for U.S. beef and pork, provided that the agreement sufficiently addresses persistent non-tariff trade barriers.
He also notes that the U.S.-Japan trade and investment agreement is a critical development because it solidifies trade relations with one of the U.S. meat industry’s largest and most reliable trading partners.
Watch the interview HERE.
RFD-TV Showcases Convenience Items Using U.S. Pork in Mexico
In a recent news segment, RFD-TV highlighted the U.S. pork industry’s efforts to further expand demand in leading market Mexico by developing convenient and delicious snack items utilizing U.S. pork. The segment features an interview with USMEF Mexico Trade Manager Rigoberto Treviño, who describes several of the new products, including:
Cones of fried chicharrones made from U.S. pork jowl
Chicha-ramen – an Asian inspired instant ramen noodle with U.S. pork jowl topping
Snack-Atelas – a dried ham snack
Support for development and promotion of the new products was provided by USDA, the National Pork Board and state soybean checkoff programs.
Watch HERE.
Coverage of USMEF at Cattle Industry Summer Business Meeting
At the Cattle Industry Summer Business Meeting in San Diego, USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom spoke with Ron Hays, director of farm and ranch programming for Radio Oklahoma Ag Network, about global demand for U.S. beef and factors impacting beef exports.
Listen to the interview HERE.
Texas Farm Bureau Radio Senior Producer Tom Nicolette also provided on-site coverage in San Diego. His conversation with Halstrom is available HERE.
RFD-TV Segment Features USMEF Beef and Pork Seminars in Amarillo, Texas
USMEF recently hosted four teams of buyers from across the globe for beef and pork training sessions at West Texas A&M University and a firsthand look at U.S. production. Buyers were from Latin America, the Caribbean, Eastern Europe and the Middle East, and were accompanied by USMEF regional representatives. The RFD-TV segment features interviews with participants and highlights from the training workshops.
Watch HERE.
National Hog Farmer: USMEF Details Barriers Limiting Pork Exports to Vietnam
In a guest column for National Hog Farmer magazine, USMEF detailed the barriers that must be removed for U.S. pork to capitalize on growth opportunities in Vietnam. The column explains that while elimination of tariffs is essential, several non-tariff barriers also severely limit trade.
Read the article HERE.
U.S. Farm Report Highlights Booming Beef Exports to Central America
In its weekly Ag Around the World segment, U.S. Farm Report highlighted surging demand for U.S. beef in Central America, where exports set a record in 2024 and have further expanded this year.
The segment features comments from Lucia Ruano, USMEF representative in the region, who explains that Central American consumers have a growing appetite for higher-end beef cuts, many of which are purchased at meat boutiques. USMEF helps support these sales through cut-specific promotions and educational seminars.
Watch HERE.
Red Meat Exports’ Value to Corn Producers Detailed on Brownfield Ag News
In a segment sponsored by the Illinois Corn Marketing Board, Brownfield Ag News reporter Jared White speaks with John Hinners, USMEF senior VP for industry relations, about the benefits red meat exports deliver for U.S. corn producers. Hinners also discusses the importance of market diversification, especially when trade obstacles impact shipments to specific trading partners such as China.
Listen to the interview HERE.
BEEF Magazine Highlights U.S. Short Plate Promotions in Korea
With U.S. beef currently facing daunting trade obstacles in China, heightened retail promotions of U.S. short plate in Korea’s retail sector are among the strategies for redirecting cuts normally destined for China. USMEF provided more details on these promotions in this guest column for BEEF Magazine.
Brownfield: USMEF Discusses New Plant Approvals for China but Cautions that Many Obstacles Remain
Brownfield Ag News reporter Brent Barnett recently spoke with Joe Schuele, USMEF senior VP for communications, regarding red meat trade with China. Schuele noted that approval of additional pork plants for export to China is a positive development, but high tariffs are still a barrier for U.S. pork. He added that U.S. beef exports to China not only face heightened tariffs but have also been impacted by China’s failure to review plant registrations.
Listen to the interview HERE.
Schuele and Barnett also discussed how tariffs, proposed tariffs and tariff deadlines can impact shipping decisions for U.S. exporters and for foreign manufacturers shipping goods to the United States. Inbound shipments also affect U.S. exporters because of the impact on vessel availability. Listen HERE.
Coverage of USMEF at World Pork Expo
At World Pork Expo in Des Moines, Iowa, USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom was a featured speaker and took part in a panel discussion with U.S. Farm Report anchor Tyne Morgan and Dr. Lee Schulz, chief economist for Ever.Ag. View the panel discussion below, in two segments:
Halstrom was also interviewed by several media outlets at World Pork Expo, including:
RFD-TV: Halstrom on Impact of Trade Obstacles on Exports to China
USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom discussed the impact of China’s retaliatory duties on exports of U.S. beef and pork with RFD-TV anchor Tammy Arender. He also explained that beef exports are being heavily impacted by China’s failure to renew facility registrations for many U.S. beef plants, making the majority of U.S. beef production ineligible.
Watch HERE.
April Export Results Detailed on Agriculture of America
Following release of the April red meat export results, USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom joined Agriculture of America guest host Mike Adams for a recap. Halstrom explained that while sharply lower exports to China weighed heavily on the overall results, April was a strong month for beef exports to Korea, Japan and Central and South America. Pork exports trended higher to Central America and Colombia and continued to perform well in Mexico, despite being down from a year ago.
Listen to the interview HERE.
RFD-TV Airs Live Interviews from USMEF Spring Conference in Fort Worth
RFD-TV’s Market Day Report conducted several live interviews with participants during the USMEF Spring Conference in Fort Worth, Texas, including:
AgDay Highlights USMEF Spring Conference’s Focus on Expanding Beef Demand
As the USMEF Spring Conference concluded in Fort Worth, AgDay aired interviews with keynote speaker Randy Blach on signs on herd expansion and spoke with USMEF Dan Halstrom about navigating current trade challenges. Dr. Cheryl DeVuyst, vice chair of the Cattlemen’s Beef Board, also discussed the Beef Checkoff Program’s role in expanding global demand for U.S. beef.
Watch the segment HERE.
Rural Radio Network’s Extensive Coverage of USMEF Spring Conference
With support from the Nebraska Corn Board, the Nebraska-based Rural Radio Network provided extensive coverage of the USMEF Spring Conference in Fort Worth.
Bryce Doeschot, ag broadcaster and host of the network’s Market Journal television program, conducted on-site interviews with USMEF Chair Steve Hanson, Vice Chair Dave Bruntz, Executive Committee member Adam Grabenstein and President and CEO Dan Halstrom.
Listen to the interviews HERE.
Texas Farm Bureau Radio Coverage from USMEF Spring Conference
Tom Nicolette, senior producer with Texas Farm Bureau Radio, provided on-site coverage of the USMEF Spring Conference in Fort Worth. Hear his conference overview and interviews with USMEF Chair Steve Hanson and President and CEO Dan Halstrom below:
Halstrom Discusses Trade Barriers and Market Access with Oklahoma Farm Report
USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom joined Ron Hays, senior farm and ranch broadcaster with Oklahoma Farm Report, for a discussion of current trade issues, including the impact of China’s retaliatory duties on U.S. pork and beef and the importance of maintaining access to other key trading partner countries. Listen to the two-part interview below:
AgDay Highlights Japanese Ramen Restaurant Chains’ Shift to Underutilized Cuts of U.S. Pork
In a recent AgDay segment, anchor Clinton Griffiths detailed a key success story for U.S. pork in Japan. Ramen Kagetsu, which operates 250 stores throughout Japan, switched from using European sheet belly for a barbecued pork dish, replacing it with U.S. false lean – an underutilized cut taken from the shoulder end of the loin. Kairikiya, with 160 outlets in Japan, is now using U.S. pork cushion meat in one of its popular dishes, rather than Mexican picnic.
Watch HERE.
UK and China Trade Situation Detailed on This Week in Agribusiness
On the latest edition of This Week in Agribusiness, USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom joined Host Mike Pearson to examine the potential for U.S. red meat exports to the United Kingdom, now that the U.S. and UK have reached agreement on a new trade framework. Halstrom also welcomes China’s recent reduction of retaliatory duties on U.S. pork and beef, but notes that significant obstacles must be lifted before trade with China is restored.
Watch the segment HERE.
Brownfield: Tariff Reductions a Good First Step, but Barriers to Trade with China Remain
Meghan Grebner, broadcast supervisor for Brownfield Ag News, interviewed USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom after the White House announced that the U.S. will cut tariff rates on good imported from China for 90 days, while China also agreed to reduce retaliatory duties. Halstrom explains that while USMEF welcomes the tariff de-escalation, China’s total tariffs on U.S. pork and beef remain high. He further notes that China still has not renewed registrations for the majority of U.S. beef plants, making most U.S. beef production ineligible until this issue is resolved.
Listen to the interview HERE.
Halstrom Discusses China De-Escalation and Trade with UK on Ag of America
USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom joined Agriculture of America Host Jesse Allen to discuss the announcement that the U.S. will cut tariff rates on good imported from China for 90 days, while China also agreed to reduce retaliatory duties. Halstrom explains that unfortunately, much work remains in these negotiations before red meat exports to China can regain momentum. They also discuss the framework announced on trade with the United Kingdom and the latest (March) export data released by USDA.
Listen to the segment HERE.
Halstrom Highlights Strong Global Demand for U.S. Beef on Northern Ag Network
Speaking with Northern Ag Network reporter Colton Young, USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom discusses strong, resilient global demand for U.S. beef, even in the face of tight supplies and high prices. Halstrom also highlights potential growth opportunities in the United Kingdom under the recently announced U.S.-UK trade framework.
Watch HERE.
National Hog Farmer: More Progress Needed on U.S. Pork Access to China, UK
In a guest column for National Hog Farmer magazine, USMEF details the progress made in reducing China’s retaliatory duties on U.S. pork, but explains that significant barriers remain.
The article also notes that while no details on pork trade when the White House unveiled a new trade framework with the United Kingdom, the British market holds significant potential for U.S. pork if tariffs and other obstacles are removed.
Read more HERE.
AgriTalk: Halstrom on Trade with China and Mexico, Pork Success in Japan
USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom joined AgriTalk Host Chip Flory for a wide-ranging discussion that covered trade tensions with China, a potential trade obstacle in Mexico and a big success story for U.S. pork in Japan’s foodservice sector.
Listen to the segment HERE.
USMEF Details Impact of China’s Retaliatory Duties on RFD-TV and AgDay
USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom spoke with RFD-TV Anchor Suzanne Alexander on how China’s prohibitively high retaliatory duties have effectively halted U.S. pork and beef exports to China. Watch the interview HERE.
Erin Borror, USMEF VP for economic analysis, also addressed this topic on a recent edition of AgDay. Watch the segment HERE.
USMEF Comments on Impact of Tariffs on Vessel Availability in Agri-Pulse
Agri-Pulse Trade Editor Oliver Ward recently detailed the impact of U.S. tariffs on the number of vessels bound for the U.S. from Asia, noting a high number of canceled sailings into major West Coast ports such as Los Angeles, Long Beach and Oakland.
Joe Schuele, USMEF senior VP for communications, explained that while securing east-bound vessel space is not yet a problem for red meat exporters, it is a growing concern. He also noted that some carriers are not providing sufficient notice to exporters, which leads to increased time and costs at port terminals.
Read the article HERE.
RFD-TV Features Great American Texas Barbecue Festival in Hong Kong
RFD-TV recently featured a news segment on USMEF Hong Kong’s Great American Texas Barbecue – an annual event that brings together hundreds of the city’s leading foodservice representatives. The most recent edition of the event featured the U.S. steamship round – a high-volume, underutilized beef cut that presents a very cost-effective option for catered events. U.S. pork ribs and sausages were also a big hit with guests.
Funding support was provided by the Texas Beef Council, the Beef Checkoff Program, the National Pork Board and USDA. Watch the segment HERE.
Coverage of USMEF’s Trade Seminar in Ghana
USMEF’s recent trade seminar in Accra, Ghana, drew extensive coverage from agricultural media. Examples include:
