Beef and pork exports of $18.1 billion in 2023 had a significant impact on the corn and soybean industries, according to an independent study conducted by The Juday Group and released by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF). The study quantified the returns beef and pork exports brought to corn and soybean producers nationally and on a state-by-state level for leading corn- and soybean-producing states, including Kansas.
Nationally, U.S. pork and beef exports contributed an estimated total economic impact of 14.6% per bushel to the value of corn and 13.9% per bushel to soybeans in 2023, according to the study. USMEF Chair Randy Spronk, a pork and grain producer from Edgerton, MN, said the quality of U.S. corn and soybeans as feed inputs is a key differentiator for U.S. red meat in international markets.
“Our production practices and the quality of our feed inputs is an important part of the story that USMEF promotes to international customers,” he said. “How we raise our soybeans, how we raise our corn, how we process our feed and the efficiencies we strive for ‒ those are sustainable practices that help differentiate us from other beef and pork exporters.”
At the state level, the market value of beef and pork exports to Kansas-grown corn was nearly $122 million, while the value to Kansas dried distillers’ grains totaled almost $24 million. Both red meat exports accounted for 20.48 million bushels of Kansas corn usage and contributed $103.53/acre. Pork exports accounted for 2.44 million bushels of Kansas soybean usage and contributed $50.70 per acre. The market value of pork exports to Kansas soybeans was $34.27 million.
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