The United States and 11 other Pacific Rim nations on Monday agreed to the largest regional trade accord in history, a potentially precedent-setting model for global commerce and worker standards that would tie together 40 percent of the world's economy, from Canada and Chile to Japan and Australia.


The Trade Ministers of the 12 countries involved have just released this statement from Atlanta, Georgia- where the final negotiations were wrapped up late last night:


"We, the trade ministers of Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, United States, and Vietnam, are pleased to announce that we have successfully concluded the Trans-Pacific Partnership. After more than five years of intensive negotiations, we have come to an agreement that will support jobs, drive sustainable growth, foster inclusive development, and promote innovation across the Asia-Pacific region. Most importantly, the agreement achieves the goal we set forth of an ambitious, comprehensive, high standard and balanced agreement that will benefit our nation's citizens.


"TPP brings higher standards to nearly 40 percent of the global economy. In addition to liberalizing trade and investment between us, the agreement addresses the challenges our stakeholders face in the 21st century, while taking into account the diversity of our levels of development. We expect this historic agreement to promote economic growth, support higher-paying jobs; enhance innovation, productivity and competitiveness; raise living standards; reduce poverty in our countries; and to promote transparency, good governance, and strong labor and environmental protections.

"To formalize the outcomes of the agreement, negotiators will continue technical work to prepare a complete text for public release, including the legal review, translation, and drafting and verification of the text. We look forward to engaging with stakeholders on the specific features of this agreement and undergoing the domestic processes to put the agreement in place."


Click here to read reaction from President Barack Obama on the Trans-Pacific Partnership.

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Pat Roberts and House Agriculture Committee Chairman K. Michael Conaway issued statements after negotiators in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) reached an agreement in Atlanta, GA, Monday morning.


"An agreement on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations provides a more level playing field in trade for American farmers," Vilsack said.  "The agreement would eliminate or significantly reduce tariffs on our products and deter non-science based sanitary and phytosanitary barriers that have put American agriculture at a disadvantage in TPP countries in the past. Despite these past barriers, countries in the Trans-Pacific Partnership currently account for up to 42 percent of all U.S. agricultural exports, totaling $633 billion. Thanks to this agreement and its removal of unfair trade barriers, American agricultural exports to the region will expand even further, particularly exports of meat, poultry, dairy, fruits, vegetables, grains, oilseeds, cotton and processed products."  Click here to read more from Secretary Vilsack.

"It is imperative that this trade pact opens new international markets for the folks back home," Roberts said. "They are my number one priority.  It is my hope that a final agreement meets the needs of the broad agriculture industry. While increased market access for industries like beef and wheat will be essential, I want to ensure that this deal is the best deal possible for all of our farmers and ranchers."  Click here to read more from Chairman Roberts.


"We have long discussed the potential benefits of TPP for all of American agriculture," Conaway said.  "That being said, I have repeatedly expressed concerns to our negotiators about the lack of progress in several key areas that, if not adequately addressed, would make passage of this agreement incredibly difficult in the House."  Click here to read more from Chairman Conaway.

After several days of negotiations, the National Cattlemen's Beef Association cheers successful conclusion of the Trans-Pacific Partnership. Trade ministers from 12 Pacific Rim nations, including the United States, wrapped up their work over the weekend in Atlanta. The National Cattlemen's Beef Association, National Pork Producers Council, National Chicken Council and National Corn Growers Association expressed confidence that the TPP agreement would benefit all sectors of the U.S. economy and will provide enormous new market opportunities for American Agriculture.  NCBA Associate Director of Legislative Affairs Kent Bacus said this is a huge opportunity for U.S. beef producers.


"In order to get, you've got to give a little bit," Bacus said. "With the beef industry, we have very open access into the U.S. market and so, we want that equal access into other markets."  Click here to read more or to listen to my full interview with Bacus.

"NPPC played an active role throughout the five-plus years of negotiations," said NPPC President Dr. Ron Prestage, "Providing U.S. negotiators with key information on barriers we face in the 11 other TPP countries and offering guidance on outcomes that would ensure substantial new market access benefits for U.S. pork in those markets."  Click here to read more from NPPC.

"The TPP represents a significant opportunity to expand U.S. chicken exports and bring increased economic benefits to chicken farmers and companies across the country," NCC President Mike Brown said.  "Our major goals in this deal are to get a strong commitment on enforcement, in particular in the area of sanitary and phytosanitary measures. Second, we hope to see that the long-protected Canadian market is finally opened to free trade for poultry."  Click here to read more from NCC.


"We are hopeful that this agreement continues the tradition of past free trade agreements, which have had a positive impact for America's farmers and ranchers," NCGA President Chip Bowling.  "In the coming weeks, we will carefully examine the agreement to determine whether it is in the best interests of America's corn farmers."  Click here to read more from NCGA.

The nation's corn, sorghum and soybean harvest, along with the nation's winter wheat planting has progressed ahead of the five year average. The latest U.S. Department of Agriculture crop progress report has cotton and peanut harvest nearly in-line with normal.


USDA reports corn harvest has reached 27 percent complete, ahead of the five year average of 32. Maturity was running ahead, with 86 percent of the crop mature. In the Corn Belt, harvest in Illinois has reached 50 percent complete, Indiana was at 29 percent and Iowa was at 13 percent. The quality of the crop has improved in gaining two points in the excellent category. USDA reports 68 percent of the crop was in good to excellent condition.


Sorghum harvest was 43 percent complete, ahead of five-year average of 37. Crop maturity was 12 points ahead of the five year average. Arkansas and Louisiana has completed harvest and Missouri was 84 percent complete. The quality of the crop was unchanged over last week, with 65 percent of the crop in good to excellent condition.


Soybean harvest was 42 percent complete, ten points ahead of the five year average. Eighty five percent of the crop was dropping leaves, slightly ahead of schedule. Harvest was 81 percent complete in Louisiana, followed by 69 percent complete in Mississippi and Minnesota. The soybean crop condition gained two points, with 64 percent in good to excellent condition.


Cotton harvest was 16 percent complete, two points behind the five-year average.   Harvest was 58 percent complete in Louisiana. Cotton bolls opening was at 77 percent, near the five year average. Crop condition was downgraded slightly with 48 percent of the crop in good to excellent condition.


Peanut harvest was 23 percent complete, nearly in line with the five year average.   The condition of the crop dropped four points since last week, with 67 percent in good to excellent condition.


Winter wheat planting reached 49 percent complete, two points behind the average of 51. Planting was the furthest along in Montana, Nebraska and South Dakota. Twenty percent of the crop has emerged, that was two points behind average.


Click here for the full national crop progress report.

The 2016 winter wheat crop in the southern plains is not being planted as quickly as it was in 2014- but Kansas and Oklahoma farmers are now close to half done with their plantings this fall. The latest plantings numbers from USDA, released Monday afternoon, show that both states have 46% of the hard red winter wheat crop now in the ground. That's three points behind the five year average for Kansas and four points behind the five year average for Oklahoma. Texas farmers are up to thirty seven percent planted, a full ten points behind their five year average. The comparisons to the work done in 2014 shows Oklahoma with the biggest discrepancy- last year at the start of October- 68% of the Oklahoma wheat crop had already been planted.


Winter canola planting in Oklahoma now stands at 62%, behind the 77% pace of last year and the five year average of 63%. The crop insurance deadline to have canola planted in the state is October 10th.


The grain sorghum harvest is tracking the five year average in Texas- with 67% harvested versus the average of 68%- Oklahoma is ahead of the curve with 46% harvested versus the five year average of 37%- and Kansas is up and rolling with milo harvest- now standing at 25% complete. The five year average for the Sunflower state is 14%.

Click here for more on crop progress and condition ratings from the southern plains- Oklahoma, Texas and Kansas- we also have the links in our story to the full report for each state for the week ending October 4th.

Cattle producers have a new way to market cattle. It's not an auction or a listing service, but rather an online platform that allow buyers and sellers to come together. AgriClear allows U.S. and Canadian cattle buyers and sellers with an efficient, cost-effective transaction and payment service. AgriClear Vice President of U.S. Operations Nevil Speer said this allows buyers and sellers access to a broader marketplace.


"Clearly there's a need to continue to be able to differentiate cattle in a meaningful way, so they don't just get blended into commodity system," Speer said.


AgriClear allows buyers and sellers to negotiate on the platform for a number of different attributes, like shrink and slide. Sellers have the ability to add photos or videos, verification documents and so forth. AgriClear also acts as the custodial agent for the financial terms in providing payment insurance and deal certainty. Speer said the capital at risk that goes on in the cattle business now is unparalleled. With concerns over nonpayment, he is seeing more producers who want to know "their partner" and having AgriClear provides an important intermediary service.  


I interviewed Nevil Speer about AgriClear. Click or tap here to listen to today's Beef Buzz.

 

Oklahoma Farm Bureau and Affiliated Companies Monday offered to host Oklahoma's Ten Commandments monument at its home office near the state Capitol at 2501 N. Stiles Ave. in Oklahoma City. The nonpartisan organization extended the offer to Gov. Mary Fallin, Attorney General Scott Pruitt and state Rep. Mike Ritze, whose family paid for the monument's construction.


"Faith has always been of utmost importance to Oklahoma Farm Bureau members," said Monica Wilke, OKFB executive director. "We are proud to give the monument a home until the Legislature is able to take further action to find a permanent location for the monument."

There was no indication that the state is going to take the Farm Bureau up on their offer- but it does look like the Monument is on the move.

News9 has video this morning on their website showing that monument was moved last night- after dark- and no indication as to where it was being taken.