We have had a solid year, once again, for red meat exports in 2024. Many folks are working hard behind the scenes to sustain and strengthen our existing markets and putting the same efforts into cultivating new trade opportunities around the globe. The U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) does much of this work. They have been a strong force in the global marketplace. 2024 was a record year for pork exports and the second-highest year for beef export values.
USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom stopped by to discuss what they are considering for the future of red meat marketing in 2025.
It starts, first and foremost, with what we are going to be seeing coming out of the White House. Trump 2.0 has been bandying about the fact that he wants to put tariffs on all incoming products to the United States. This would mean a retaliatory scenario in which agriculture is the likely target. It is a good place to twist the knife in the American economy. It also goes after a large percentage of his voter base. Halstrom talks about the momentum that our meat exports have had this year.
Halstrom talks about the outlook if tariffs were to be put in place.
Halstrom talks about the forecast they have put together for 2025. He expects another record year for pork. He expects that the beef exports will maintain a value versus quantity balance. He also talks about the markets they are looking to strengthen in the year to come.
These markets offer some opportunities to continue the concept of “whole-carcass value.” Different regions have different traditions and delicacies that we aren’t necessarily thinking about as consumers of our production in the United States.
You will be able to catch the full interview with USMEF’s Dan Halstrom on Thursday and Friday’s editions of the Iowa Ag Matters program.
