This week, President Donald Trump started the process for the United States to enter into a free trade agreement with Japan. With Japan representing the third largest export market for feed, feed ingredients and pet food products behind Canada and Mexico, this could bring about positive changes for the U.S. animal food industry.
The U.S. animal food industry hasn’t faced the same level of backlash as other industries and those within the agricultural sector because of the current U.S.-China tariff war, mainly because it has barely had access to the Chinese market in the first place.
Welcome to the American Feed Industry Association’s inaugural blog post! We are excited to formally launch this blog as a means of sharing insights from AFIA staff, members and guests on both policy issues and topics that are being discussed in the news.
Belstra Milling has long held the notion that it’s important to educate others about our part in producing their food. I think a lot of this goes back to my dad who gave many folks a “nickel tour” of our feed mill.
What makes a feed facility “the best?” Modern equipment, efficient operations and high-quality ingredients are all very important aspects, but it goes beyond that.
Roughly this time last year, we started hearing about the first outbreaks of African swine fever (ASF) across China. Our rapid response team immediately activated, developing a multi-pronged action plan to address this issue. Now, more than a year later, with the disease still actively spreading across Europe and Asia, we realize that this threat, which has so far stayed outside of our borders, is still of grave concern.
Fast forward 39 years: AFIA has asked that I write a blog, for the what? This old cowboy? Well this will be interesting….
“Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.” U.S. Postal Service’s unofficial motto.