NASDA Awarded USDA Funding To Increase Market Access For U.S. Agriculture

Dec 16, 2022

The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture has been awarded $925,000 through the United States Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service Emerging Markets Program. The Emerging Markets Program helps organizations promote exports of U.S. agricultural products to developing countries with strong growth potential.

“We are excited for NASDA members to engage in critical discussions to support global market development and strengthen bilateral trade relationships,” NASDA CEO Ted McKinney said.

NASDA will use this funding to conduct market research in emerging markets in Southeast Asia and Africa and organize outbound trade missions for state department of agriculture leaders to learn about the markets and engage in discussions with relevant parties in each country.

“NASDA members understand how important it is to spread the message about the value and quality of U.S. products and the benefits of innovation around the world. The first step in earning strong trading partners is establishing open communication and stewarding international relationships,” McKinney said. “We are appreciative of our partnership with USDA FAS that now enables us to embark on this mission and champion the federal government’s vision for international trade.”

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Video: What Does 20 MILLION Hogs a Year Look Like?

?? The Multi-Plant System Processing 20 Million Hogs Annually in the Midwest JBS USA operates multiple large-scale pork processing facilities across the Midwest, including major plants in Iowa, Minnesota, and Indiana. Combined, these facilities have the capacity to process approximately 20 million hogs annually.

Each plant operates high-speed automated slaughter systems capable of processing up to 20,000 head per day, followed by fabrication lines that break carcasses into primals, sub-primals, and case-ready retail products.

Hog procurement is coordinated through electronic marketing platforms that connect regional contract finishing operations and independent producers to plant demand schedules. This digital procurement system allows for steady supply flow and scheduling efficiency across multiple facilities.

Processing plants incorporate comprehensive food safety systems, including pathogen intervention technologies, rapid chilling processes, and integrated cold-chain management. USDA inspection is embedded throughout the harvest and fabrication stages to ensure regulatory compliance and product integrity. Finished pork products — from bulk primals to retail-ready packaged cuts — are distributed through coordinated logistics networks serving domestic and export markets.