Morning Ag Clips logo
  • Subscribe ❯
  • PORTAL ❯
  • LOGIN ❯
  • By Keyword
  • By topic
  • By state
  • Home
  • Events
  • Jobs
  • Store
  • Advertise
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Subscribe to our
    daily email
    ❯
  • Portal Registration❯
  • Login❯
  • policy
  • tractors & machinery
  • education
  • conservation
  • webinars
  • business
  • dairy
  • cattle
  • poultry
  • swine
  • corn
  • soybeans
  • organic
  • specialty crops
  • Alabama
  • Alaska
  • Arizona
  • Arkansas
  • California
  • Colorado
  • Connecticut
  • Delaware
  • Florida
  • Georgia
  • Hawaii
  • Idaho
  • Illinois
  • Indiana
  • Iowa
  • Kansas
  • Kentucky
  • Louisiana
  • Maine
  • Maryland
  • Massachusetts
  • Michigan
  • Minnesota
  • Mississippi
  • Missouri
  • Montana
  • Nebraska
  • Nevada
  • New Hampshire
  • New Jersey
  • New Mexico
  • New York
  • North Carolina
  • North Dakota
  • Ohio
  • Oklahoma
  • Oregon
  • Pennsylvania
  • Rhode Island
  • South Carolina
  • South Dakota
  • Tennessee
  • Texas
  • Utah
  • Vermont
  • Virginia
  • Washington
  • West Virginia
  • Wisconsin
  • Wyoming

Morning Ag Clips

  • By Keyword
  • By topic
  • By state
  • policy
  • tractors & machinery
  • education
  • conservation
  • webinars
  • business
  • dairy
  • cattle
  • poultry
  • swine
  • corn
  • soybeans
  • organic
  • specialty crops
  • Home
  • Events
  • Jobs
  • Store
  • Advertise
Home » Overseas trade a lifeline for U.S. agriculture
business economy international policy trade
COMMENTARY ...

Overseas trade a lifeline for U.S. agriculture

By Director Derek Sandison, Washington State Department of Agriculture

PUBLISHED ON October 5, 2021

Director Derek Sandison, Washington State Department of Agriculture: "Promoting agricultural and food products for export is a primary responsibility of state agriculture departments, in addition to opening new markets and ensuring trade agreements are implemented." (Courtesy Photo)

WASHINGTON — State departments of agriculture operate on the front lines of U.S. export promotion – and for good reason. Food, agriculture and forestry exports provide a vital source of income for Americans. Promoting agricultural and food products for export is a primary responsibility of state agriculture departments, in addition to opening new markets and ensuring trade agreements are implemented.  In Washington state alone, we ship about a third of our agricultural products to markets outside the U.S., and with our state’s position on the Pacific Rim, it should be no surprise that countries in Asia have made up a large part of our international customer base. Given their proximity, Mexico and Canada are also natural and major customers for our agriculture industry.

Director Derek Sandison, Washington State Department of Agriculture. Director Sandison also serves as NASDA Marketing and International Trade Committee Chair & The Agriculture Trade Education Council Vice-Chair. (Courtesy Photo)

But global trade is important to all of U.S. agriculture, including states with a smaller international footprint. Robust trade abroad gives the U.S. agriculture industry markets beyond local consumers. This not only provides more revenue for those operations involved in exporting, but it also helps smaller operations by allowing them to focus on their local or domestic customers. Altogether, National Association of State Departments of Agriculture members facilitate millions of dollars’ worth of agricultural exports in their states, totaling to $155.58 billion nationwide and providing a $2 trillion impact on our economy.

In Washington, we dedicate an entire team to work with the food and agriculture community to develop markets and expand market access. Our International Marketing Program consists of trade specialists based in Washington and contracted trade experts based in key markets who help companies become export ready, clear up red tape for agriculture businesses that are already exporting, organize trade missions and address trade difficulties that may arise. By assisting agriculture and food operations expand their exports, this team generates revenues that ultimately benefits our state’s bottom line, too.

But recent years have been challenging for agriculture, and especially for those commodities that depend on exports. Trade disputes caused some disruptions in the market, and just as the agriculture industry began to adjust, the COVID-19 pandemic struck bringing with it a host of disruptions that continue presently.

One of the many casualties of the pandemic were the in-person trade missions that are such a hallmark of developing export markets. In Washington, our team had to pivot and, like so many others, push the capacities of the virtual meeting. Trade missions are international excursions that allow the U.S. to explore and pursue export opportunities by meeting directly with potential buyers in other countries.

In trade missions I have participated in, we’ve been joined by organized groups of farmers, our Governor’s Office, USDA Foreign Agriculture Service, our State Regional Trade Group (WUSATA), our state’s Department of Commerce and other business organizations. In my four years as agriculture secretary for Washington State, I’ve participated in several trade missions abroad, visiting countries in Asia, Europe, Central America and Mexico.

With famers, state agriculture departments, national governments and businesses all together, we’re able to have conversations about the market, local consumer preferences and how Washington state commodities can meet buyers’ needs.

Director Sandison (right) pictured with NASDA CEO Ted McKinney (left) at a market during a trade mission to Guatemala. (Courtesy Photo)

The pandemic forced us to organize virtual trade missions, which brought about new challenges and opportunities. In Washington we conducted our first “virtual trade mission” in June of 2020. By now, virtual meetings are commonplace, but last summer, it still felt novel to host a virtual event such as this. Since then, our International Marketing Program has conducted more than 25 virtual trade missions and trade shows, many in collaboration with other state departments of agriculture and WUSATA.

Even in-person events rarely result in immediate sales agreements. Such agreements usually take time. What trade missions do best is provide the basis for new business relationships, or an opportunity to maintain existing relationships. Washington food and ag businesses have expressed appreciation that we are providing opportunities to do this virtually until travel restrictions are lifted, and we are pleased to see on-going correspondence between the parties involved.

While we have continued to do what we can to support ag export businesses virtually, we hope that soon there will be a return to in-person trade missions. Trade is built on relationships, and relationships must be developed and maintained in-person to flourish.

The value of robust export markets for our agriculture industry cannot be overstated. It’s good for our farmers and ranchers, the food industry and our economy as a whole. Knowing this, we ardently work to promote trading relationships that helps ensure the prosperity of agriculture. I hope to see you on a future trade mission.

Director Sandison serves as chair of NASDA’s Marketing and International Trade Committee. The committee, made up of secretaries, directors and commissioners of agriculture from across the country, tracks the development of trade agreements, efforts to promote agricultural exports and state programs to market agricultural products domestically and abroad. Director Sandison leads the committee’s efforts to improve U.S. agricultural trade opportunities.

Through the NASDA Foundation, Director Sandison also serves as vice-chair of the Agriculture Trade Education Council, a new non-advocacy organization focused on educating people about the importance of international trade for U.S. farmers and ranchers. In addition, the ATEC is provides objective and factual information to the agricultural industry, decision makers and ultimately the public about the mechanics of trade. This includes the nature and structure of trade agreements, how trade disputes arise, how they are resolved and other related aspects of trade.   

–Director Derek Sandison,
Washington State Department of Agriculture
NASDA

For more articles concerning trade issues, click here.

RECOMMENDED ARTICLES

NASDA CEO Ted McKinney (Stock photo via U.S. Department of Agriculture, Public Domain)
State agriculture officials broaden recommendations for the 2023 farm bill
October 03, 2022

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. — As discussions for writing the 2023 farm bill continue, the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture has added direction to its policy advocacy efforts regarding the bill in several areas. Today at the NASDA annual meeting, members charged the organization to ensure farm bill conversations include the following topics: Expanded […]

NASDA sets its federal policy focus for 2022
January 18, 2022

WASHINGTON — NASDA members, the state commissioners, secretaries and directors of agriculture, hand-selected nine issues to serve as the organization’s primary policy focus for 2022. They include the 2023 Farm Bill, animal health, climate resiliency, food safety, the food and production supply chain, infrastructure, international trade, workforce development and defining “waters of the United States.” “These issues were chosen for NASDA’s 2022 focus, […]

NASDA elevates small food & beverage businesses internationally
November 24, 2021

WASHINGTON — Getting product on shelves across the world can be an intimidating task for small to medium sized food and beverage companies, but NASDA has proven it doesn’t have to be. Each year, the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) partners with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS) […]

NASDA: New staff opportunities, welcomes new team members
July 27, 2021

WASHINGTON — The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture is pleased to announce the promotion of Autumn Lankford to Manager, Public Policy and the hiring of Ellen Roth and Farrah Creer as Executive Administrator to the CEO and Coordinator, Human Resources & Finance, respectively. “Today we celebrate new opportunities for longstanding staff and welcome […]

Spread the word

Browse More Clips

Higher loan limit now available for USDA guaranteed farm loans

USDA to launch loan guarantee initiative

Primary Sidebar

MORE

NATIONAL CLIPS

The Cattle Price Discovery and Transparency Act
February 2, 2023
2022 Heritage Breed Microgrants awarded
February 2, 2023
Funding to improve seniors' access to locally grown foods
February 2, 2023
dairy milk milking robotic milker
U.S. dairy praises USTR move to hold Canada responsible for USMCA violations
February 2, 2023
As prices ease, 1.45 billion chicken wings on the menu for Super Bowl LVII
February 2, 2023
  • Trending
  • Latest

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE...

Iowa Pork Regional Conferences
Iowa Pork Regional Conferences Feb. 20-23
February 3, 2023
Wisconsin Beef Leadership Institute
Apply now for Beef Leadership Institute
February 3, 2023
harbor maintenance
Grants to seven harbor projects benefit ag
February 3, 2023
economic development division director
New ag economic development division leader
February 2, 2023
Impact of 2023 government leadership on Ohio ag?
February 2, 2023

Footer

MORNING AG CLIPS

  • Contact Us
  • Sponsors
  • About Us
  • Advertise with Us
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service

CONNECT WITH US

  • Like Us on Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

TRACK YOUR TRADE

  • Markets & Economy
  • Cattle Updates
  • Dairy News
  • Policy & Politics
  • Corn Alerts

QUICK LINKS

  • Account
  • Portal Membership
  • Just Me, Kate
  • Farmhouse Communication

Get the MAC App Today!

Get it on Google Play
Download on the App Store

© 2023 Morning Ag Clips, LLC. All Rights Reserved.