USDA Continues to Remove Barriers and Open Trade Opportunities for U.S. Farmers and Ranchers

DES MOINES, Iowa, April 10, 2015 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has recently reached agreements allowing U.S. beef and pork producers greater access to consumers in Mexico and Peru. The two agreements announced Friday will allow U.S. producers to export slaughter cattle to Mexico and expand access to consumer markets in Peru for U.S. fresh and chilled pork. The Secretary made the announcements during a meeting with producers in Des Moines, Iowa.

"Our priority at USDA is not only to open or reopen markets for our producers, but to help drive U.S. economic growth through trade by supporting and creating American jobs on and off the farm," said Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack. "Mexico is an important market for U.S. cattle producers, with the potential to import $15 million of live U.S. cattle per year and we expect Peru's market could generate $5 million annually in additional pork sales."

The United States and Mexico reached an agreement that takes effect immediately and will allow U.S. producers to export slaughter cattle to Mexico for the first time in over a decade. The USDA has been working with Mexico since 2008 to reopen this market and the final agreement was reached between USDA Under Secretary Ed Avalos and Enrique Sanchez-Cruz with SAGARPA during meetings this week in Washington, DC. Exporters and producers can find the required documents on the APHIS website or through their local Veterinary Services office.

Similarly, USDA has conducted extensive negotiations with Peru's Servicio National De Sanidad Agraria (SENASA) since 2012 to expand access for U.S. fresh, chilled pork and pork products. USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service export library will be updated to the new export requirements for these pork and pork products exports.

"More than one million people go to work every day thanks to exports of American-grown products. Expanded U.S. agricultural exports mean more new jobs, but our farmers and ranchers will miss out on new markets for American products if Congress doesn't act on Trade Promotion Authority early this year and if we don't continue to build support for a Trans-Pacific Partnership with Asian nations."

USDA continues its push to eliminate all remaining trade barriers to U.S. cattle and cattle products stemming from past detections of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service continues to work with its trading partners to ensure any unnecessary requirements for U.S. origin beef are eliminated. The World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) considers the United States' to have negligible risk for BSE. This is OIE's lowest risk category for this disease.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture continuously seeks opportunities for U.S. agricultural products and producers to expand access to overseas markets and contribute to a positive U.S. trade balance, to create jobs and to support economic growth. The past six years have represented the strongest period for American agricultural exports in the history of our country. In fiscal year 2014 American farmers and ranchers exported a record $152.5 billion of food and agricultural products to consumers worldwide.

#

DES MOINES, April 9-10, 2015 - THURSDAY, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will attend the McCombs Boys & Girls Club dinner program to highlight the USDA's efforts to address childhood hunger and access to nutrition.

USDA programs help families gain access to healthy, nutritious food. Yet, in 2013, nearly 16 million children lived in families that had trouble getting adequate food. More than 75 percent of educators say their students often show up hungry, and one in four children in rural America live in food-insecure households.

The McCombs Boys & Girls Club in Des Moines helps to overcome these challenges by providing meals through USDA's Child and Adult Care Food Program.

While in Des Moines, Secretary Vilsack will interview with Iowa Press and hold a media availability following the interview.

Thursday, April 9, 2015

EVENT #1

5 p.m. CST

WHAT: Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will serve dinner at the McCombs Boys and Girls Club dinner program and discuss USDA efforts to address childhood hunger, including after school meal programs.

*Press should arrive at 4:45 to set up for photos/b-roll as dinner begins promptly at 5p.m. Press availability to follow at 5:15pm*

WHERE: McCombs Boys & Girls Club
McCombs Middle School
201 SW County Line Road
Des Moines, Iowa 50320

Friday, April 10, 2015

EVENT #2

11:30 a.m. CST

WHAT: Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will interview with Iowa Press.

*Press availability to follow*

WHERE: Iowa Public Television
6450 Corporate Drive
Johnston, IA 50131

Iowa Biodiesel Board's 'Biodiesel Day on the Hill' showcases growing consumer choice in fuel efficient diesel vehicles

WHAT: The "Iowa Biodiesel Day on the Hill," a public education day and luncheon hosted by the Iowa Biodiesel Board. Members and supporters will meet with state legislators to discuss the benefits of the state's biodiesel industry.

IBB will also host a Ride-and-Drive with a few of the latest diesel passenger cars, SUVs and pickup trucks on the market, fueled by biodiesel blends. Anyone with a valid driver's license can participate.

Governor Terry Branstad is scheduled to participate at approximately 1:10 p.m.

WHEN:
11:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
(Lunch: 11:30-1:00, Ride-and-drive: 12:00 - 3:00)  
1:10 p.m.: Governor Branstad at Ride-and-Drive

Wed., April 8

WHERE: 
Iowa State Capitol
Room #115-116 (lunch) 
Ride-and-Drive: West side of Capitol, Finkbine Drive (between Walnut and Grand)
Rain plan: Will pick up participants in circle drive

WHO: Iowa Biodiesel Board Executive Director Grant Kimberley, IBB Chair Chad Stone, other biodiesel producers, petroleum leaders and farmers. Ride-and-Drive sponsored by Stew Hansen Dodge Ram Chrysler Jeep in Urbandale, Charles Gabus Ford in Des Moines, the Iowa Soybean Association, National Biodiesel Board and biodiesel producer REG. 

BACKGROUND: Biodiesel is an advanced biofuel made from agricultural byproducts and co-products, such as soybean oil. U.S. consumers have more options than ever to drive clean, fuel-efficient diesel vehicles capable of running on domestic, renewable biodiesel blends.

According to the Diesel Technology Forum, conservative industry estimates put diesel's share of the passenger vehicle market at 6 to 10 percent of the market by 2023, exceeding estimates for other alternative vehicle choices such as hybrids and electric vehicles.

WASHINGTON, March 31, 2015 - TODAY, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will announce the availability of financial and technical assistance through the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program(ACEP). Also on the media call will be Jason Weller, chief of USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).

The 2014 Farm Bill consolidated three previous conservation easement programs into ACEP to make it easier for diverse agricultural landowners to fully benefit from conservation initiatives.

USDA easement programs have been a critical tool in recent years for advancing landscape-scale private lands conservation. Last year, NRCS used $328 million in ACEP funding to enroll an estimated 145,000 acres of farmland, grassland, and wetlands through 485 new easements.