By Grant Gerlock
Corn exports, for example, are up 3 percent over the previous marketing year. (The marketing year USDA uses for corn and soybeans runs from September 1 to August 31.)
Soybean exports are down 3 percent, but Gregg Doud, the top agriculture negotiator in the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, considers that to be an encouraging sign given the turmoil caused by tariffs lobbed back and forth between the U.S. and China — the largest buyer of U.S. soybeans.
“What we’re seeing in these markets right now is that corn, soybeans, beef, pork — they’ve been really, really solid,” Doud said after meeting with leaders of Nebraska agriculture groups in Omaha on Monday.
Soybean exports to China are down 23 percent, but the overall decline in exports was small thanks to larger shipments to countries like Vietnam, Pakistan and Egypt, which has nearly tripled its soybean imports from the U.S. this year.
Farm groups continue to push for a speedy resolution with China and for completion of NAFTA negotiations with Canada and Mexico.
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