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Diversifying exports creates value for producers

The outgoing chairman of the US Meat Export Federation says strong exports help add value to US beef, pork, and lamb. 

Dean Meyer,a corn, soybean, and livestock producer from Iowa says  it isn’t just exports of high-quality cuts that add value back to producers.  “It’s the variety meats,” he says.  “And those things we don’t consume here.  Whether it’s the tongue, the heart, the liver, those products have value in other countries.”

He tells Brownfield without exports, the prices producers receive would look a lot different. Which is why Meyer says it’s critical that the funding used to develop trade is protected in the farm bill. 

“It’s important that we maintain, if not grow, the USDA funds,” he says.  “Because it’s the number one source of our funding.  We need these markets and we need to find new markets.”

AUDIO: Dean Meyer, US Meat Export Federation Chairman