Oklahoma Farm Report - USMEF Chair-Elect Cevin Jones Says There is a Great Story to Tell Right Now in the Export Business

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USMEF Chair-Elect Cevin Jones Says There is a Great Story to Tell Right Now in the Export Business

Wed, 05 Dec 2018 09:49:23 CST

USMEF Chair-Elect Cevin Jones Says There is a Great Story to Tell Right Now in the Export Business Cevin Jones of Idaho was recently elected to serve as Chairman-elect for the United States Meat Export Federation at the organization's business meeting held earlier this year on the West Coast. According to him, the mood of the ship so to speak, especially for beef exports, is fairly strong currently. He talked in depth about the current global export situation for US meat products in Kansas City last month with Radio Oklahoma Ag Network Associate Farm Director Carson Horn.

"In spite of all the trade rhetoric that's going on and retaliatory tariffs, etc., etc. - it's been a pretty good year. Especially for beef. Pork is holding its own, but for the beef sector, we've got a really good story to tell. Looks like we're going to top $8 billion in exports," Jones said enthusiastically. "That equates back to about $320 per head for producers."

The numbers that have been reported by the USMEF show that beef exports have actually been performing at record levels in recent days. Jones says the general outlook for next year looks promising as well, though he admits there are some geo-political issues that need to be worked out between the US government and a few of our more prominent international trading partners. If those issues are resolved, he says the US should be able to take advantage of and enjoy the US export market's full potential. Obviously, settling the US-China Trade War is on that list, but Jones also mentioned certain priorities he would like to see the administration focus on - such as a bilateral trade agreement with Japan to offset the competitive edge that TPP-member nations will have over the US. In the meantime, though, Jones says the US has a great story unfolding in Central and South America where business is still booming - even in Mexico where tariffs have been levied on US pork.

"Both are seeing big increases down there for pork products," he said. "We're going to add probably three or four more people down there in South America to help promote pork and beef throughout the continent. So, I think we'll continue to see good growth in all those markets. We just need access."

Listen to Jones and Horn discuss US trade relations and how US meat exports are performing this year, with Radio Oklahoma Ag Network Farm Director Ron Hays, on today's Beef Buzz.

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