Spotlight on the U.S. Meat Export Federation
Written by Jonathan Eisenthal
Each year, as part of our mission to promote opportunities for corn farmers, Minnesota Corn invests corn check-off funds in organizations that build markets for corn, ethanol, and ethanol co-products — both directly and indirectly. This includes the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF), which develops international markets for U.S. red meat.
Below is a brief overview of USMEF, which is based in Denver and has offices and representatives around the world. Read more about how Minnesota corn check-off funds are driving USMEF’s market-development activities in the winter edition of Corn Talk, the official publication of Minnesota Corn.
If you produce grain in Minnesota, then exports of beef and pork account for a significant portion of the market price you enjoy for your products, according to studies by USMEF.
Each year, billions of bushels of field corn go toward feeding animals, including hogs and beef cattle. In 2021, approximately 22% of U.S. beef and pork was exported.
Founded in 1976, USMEF carries out market development activities in more than 95 countries. The organization gathers and disseminates market intelligence, facilitates contact between buyers and suppliers, provides technical assistance, promotes U.S. red meat through partnerships with retailers, educates consumers, and more.
USMEF is funded from a variety of sources, including membership dues, private contributions, and beef, pork, lamb, corn, and soybean check-off programs. John Hinners, USMEF’s senior vice president for industry relations, said the organization has had strong representation from corn producers from the beginning.
For 2022-23, USMEF’s chair-elect is Randy Spronk, a Pipestone-area corn, soybean, and pork producer and former chairman of National Pork Producers Council. He said that consumers abroad appreciate the superior attributes of U.S. corn-fed beef and pork.
“Minnesota corn check-off funding contributes to USMEF’s mission of promoting U.S. red meat throughout the world while building a strong partnership with the U.S. grain and livestock industry,” he said.
In 2022-23, Minnesota Corn is investing in USMEF’s efforts to promote U.S. beef in America’s two largest beef export markets, Japan and South Korea. The U.S. exported 152,940 metric tons of beef and beef variety meats to Japan and 84,725 metric tons to South Korea in 2021.
Learn more about USMEF at usmef.org.
