Hoosier farmers evaluate projects in Mexico amid trade war concerns

Amid concerns of a trade war with Mexico, Hoosier farmers attended the Expo Carnes Trade Show in
Monterrey, Mexico, and reviewed other checkoff projects in the region.

The trade show, taking part in early March, featured booths and products from checkoff partners such as the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF), U.S. Pork and companies including Indiana Kitchen. During the show, farmers had a chance to engage with buyers of U.S. meat.

Matthew Lucas, who farms in Brownstown and serves as ICMC’s vice president, said maintaining key export markets is crucial to profitability for Hoosier farmers.

“That is the biggest concern for ag producers,” he explained. “How are these tariffs going to unfold on U.S. products moving into Mexico? Is pork going to be part of that? Is corn going to be part of that? How (is Mexico) going to try to retaliate?”

Despite this uncertainty, Lucas remains optimistic about the future of trade with Mexico following the trade mission to Monterrey.

“Mexico imports about 40 percent of its meat products; and of that 40 percent, 80 percent is originating from the U.S.,” Lucas reported. “Just because we’re exporting meat down here doesn’t mean that doesn’t affect outcomes for grain producers. It takes grain to feed the cattle and hogs that we are sending down here.”

Lucas is hopeful the two countries can continue their mutually beneficial trade relationship.

While in Monterrey, the farmers received an overview of Foreign Agricultural Service projects from Dan Archibald, director of the USDA’s FAS Ag Trade Office. And Gerardo Rodriquez, a regional director for USMEF, updated farmers on checkoff projects in Mexico and the Dominican Republic. The trade mission also included a review of beef and pork packing plants and a visit to Proboca, a Mexican food company importing turkey from Farbest Foods in Jasper, Indiana.