The agriculture industry continues to press the current administration on bolstering trade agreements. We hear from the U.S. Department of Agriculture that work is underway to build export relationships. Most recently, the U.S. hosted one of its largest trade missions ever to India. Foreign Agricultural Service Administrator Daniel Whitely says India is a huge opportunity. Some of the commodities that India has reduced tariffs on since last summer have been chickpeas, apples, frozen turkey, and cranberries, just to name a few.

In other news, Whitely says they’ve been focused on boosting China’s participation in cheese purchases.

There’s positive news for Wisconsin specialty crops, as well, such as potatoes and beans. Whitely says there are huge changes in demographics and purchasing power underway in countries we haven’t been targeting before, such as in Africa.