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Do consumers understand current "Product of USA" label?
Legislative Watch: Food Safety and Inspection Service survey; U.S. ag exports record high; 2022 Farm Income Forecast.
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The Food Safety and Inspection Service plans to survey consumers on their knowledge and perceived value of the "Product of USA" label on beef and pork.
The survey according to the notice in the Federal Register will address three questions:
Do consumers notice the "Product of USA" labeling claim?
Do consumers understand the current "Product of USA" definition and other "USDA" labeling ( e.g., "USDA Choice") as it relates to country of origin?
How much are consumers willing to pay for meat products bearing the "Product of USA" labeling claim for the current definition and potential revised definitions ( e.g., if the meat were from an animal that was born, raised, slaughtered and processed in the United States)?
Public comments on the survey plan are due to FSIS by April 4, 2022.
Record ag exports
U.S. agricultural exports hit a record high of $177 billion in 2021, which is an increase of 18% over 2020, and 14.6% higher than the previous record in 2014.
Beef, pork and poultry exports reached record highs. Beef and beef products total $10.6 billion, an increase of 39% over 2020. Pork and pork products totaled $8.1 billion, up 5%. Poultry meat and products totaled $5.3 billion, up 25%.
According to the U.S. Meat Export Federation, U.S. pork exports to Mexico, Central America, the Dominican Republic and the Philippines set new records.
The top 10 export markets all saw increases. China, Mexico, Canada, South Korea, the Philippines and Colombia set new records. U.S. commodities that reached record highs were soybeans, corn, beef, pork, dairy, distillers grains and pet food.
China was the top export market with a record $33 billion in purchases, an increase of 25% over 2020. Mexico was the second largest market, followed by Canada.
2022 Farm income to remain above 20-year average
The USDA's Economic Research Service's latest "2022 Farm Income Forecast" estimates that net farm income for 2022 will be $113.7 billion, a decrease of $5.4 billion from 2021. Net farm income is a broad measure of profits. The 2022 net farm income will be 15.2% above the 20-year (2001-2020) average of $98.7 billion.
Net cash farm income for 2022 is forecast at $136.1 billion, an increase of $1.9 billion over 2021. USDA considers net cash farm income as cash receipts from farming as well as farm-related income (including government payments) minus cash expenses.
Direct government payments are forecast at $11.7 billion, a decline of $15.5 billion or 57% from 2021.
Farm cash receipts are forecast at $461.9 billion or an increase of $29.3 billion (6.8%) over 2021. Farm sector production expenses, including expenses associated with operator dwellings, are forecast at $411.6 billion, an increase of $20.1 billion or 5.1%. Fertilizer expenses are forecast to increase 12% and feed expenses at 6.1%.
Source: P. Scott Shearer, who is solely responsible for the information provided, and wholly owns the information. Informa Business Media and all its subsidiaries are not responsible for any of the content contained in this information asset. The opinions of this writer are not necessarily those of Farm Progress/Informa.
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