Deputy USDA Secretary Krysta Harden is heading off Monday to Beijing China on a five day trade mission. Harden will lead the U.S. delegation at the U.S. China Strategic and Economic Dialogue. The Chinese market is an important one for America’s Livestock producers and South Dakota is poised to take advantage of that. State Agriculture Secretary Lucas Lentsch says that was evident in a recent trade trip he and Governor Dennis Daugaard took to China when they spoke with the U.S. Ambassador.
Lentsch says cattle prices have been good lately and South Dakota is benefitting from that.
China also represents an important destination for U.S. pork and soybeans. At the dialogue next week, Deputy Secretary Harden will join Secretary of State John Kerry and Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew in discussing long term trade strategies.