Audio: Exports Booming, but with Right Tools We Can Do Even More
Published: May 26, 2011
With U.S. pork and beef exports on a record pace in 2011, opening day of the USMEF Board of Directors Meeting in Washington, D.C., had an optimistic tone. But the discussion also included reminders that the industry is still being held back by a number of obstacles and trade barriers.
USMEF Chairman Keith Miller, a farmer-stockman from Great Bend, Kan., emphasized that the premiums derived from meat exports are especially critical to livestock producers at a time of record-high production costs.
Miller audio clip #1: 1:11 Outcue: "products in the future."
U.S. Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) addressed USMEF members on the importance of removing trade barriers and giving U.S. products a more level playing field. He reminded the group of Winston Churchill’s saying, “Success is not final, and failure is not fatal. It is the courage to continue that counts” - when discussing the need to ratify critical free trade agreements.
Baucus audio clip #2: 1:06 Outcue: "our success is not final."
U.S Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack also addressed the meeting. He said the $75 billion in agricultural exports in the first half of this fiscal year made it the best six months in the nation’s history, and that this success is a major boost to the U.S. economy.
Vilsack audio clip #3: :49 Outcue: "producers have shown."
Thursday’s agenda is dominated by USMEF committee meetings, including the Exporter Committee, Feedgrain Caucus, Pork and Allied Industries Committee and Beef and Allied Industries Committee. The conference will conclude with a meeting of the full USMEF Board of Directors on Friday morning.
USMEF Chairman Keith Miller, a farmer-stockman from Great Bend, Kan., emphasized that the premiums derived from meat exports are especially critical to livestock producers at a time of record-high production costs.
Miller audio clip #1: 1:11 Outcue: "products in the future."
U.S. Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) addressed USMEF members on the importance of removing trade barriers and giving U.S. products a more level playing field. He reminded the group of Winston Churchill’s saying, “Success is not final, and failure is not fatal. It is the courage to continue that counts” - when discussing the need to ratify critical free trade agreements.
Baucus audio clip #2: 1:06 Outcue: "our success is not final."
U.S Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack also addressed the meeting. He said the $75 billion in agricultural exports in the first half of this fiscal year made it the best six months in the nation’s history, and that this success is a major boost to the U.S. economy.
Vilsack audio clip #3: :49 Outcue: "producers have shown."
Thursday’s agenda is dominated by USMEF committee meetings, including the Exporter Committee, Feedgrain Caucus, Pork and Allied Industries Committee and Beef and Allied Industries Committee. The conference will conclude with a meeting of the full USMEF Board of Directors on Friday morning.