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Argentine livestock farming showed its best version and is making a strong commitment to genetics. The 83rd Angus Autumn Indoor Exhibition was notable for its exhibition of over 1,000 breeding animals and the awarding of prizes to the best specimens, solidifying the breed's excellent genetics at a key gathering for the national livestock industry. With over 7,000 visitors, the show served as a showcase of excellence where the efforts of breeders and the science applied to genetic improvement combined to project the future of Argentine beef toward the world's most demanding markets.
A delegation of 11 ranchers from the United States, hailing from states with a long-standing ranching tradition such as Montana, Arkansas, Kentucky, and Missouri, actively participated in the activities in Palermo. They were led by Weston Merrill from the Montana Department of Agriculture and Erin Dorsey from the Red Angus Association.
Source: Ferias y Congresos, Noticias, Exposiciones Rurales, June 21, 2026
USDA announced a reorganization of the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) to streamline operations, consolidate support functions, and bring employees and programs closer to America’s agricultural heartland. The effort is part of a broader Department‑wide initiative that directs agencies to align workforce and facilities with available resources and to use these savings to focus on the core USDA mission to advance American agriculture and revive rural communities.
As part of this effort, FAS will establish an operational support hub in Kansas City, Missouri, and will begin a phased relocation of much of its Washington, D.C.-based workforce to this new duty station and to USDA’s George Washington Carver Center in Beltsville, Maryland, while a smaller Washington-based contingent will remain in Washington, D.C. This modernization effort does not include any reduction in force and focuses entirely on domestic headquarters functions; no overseas staff or diplomatic posts are affected. Any organizational updates or relocations will be phased in over time and in close consultation with affected staff, who will receive any available support throughout the transition.
For more information on USDA reorganization efforts, visit usda.gov/about-usda/reorganization.
Source: USDA-FAS Newsroom, June 17, 2026
USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) invites U.S. higher education and research institutions to submit proposals for the 2026 Borlaug and Cochran Fellowship Programs. This $3,675,000 investment funds U.S.-based scientific collaboration and training designed to dismantle foreign barriers to trade, advance regulatory frameworks based in science, and secure new pathways for U.S. agricultural export.
USDA-FAS’s fiscal year 2026 investment will fund collaborative research and training based in the United States. These programs directly support U.S. agriculture by reducing foreign trade barriers, advancing science-based regulations, and opening new export markets for U.S. commodities.
2026 funding portfolios:
- Borlaug Fellowship Program ($2.625M total): Funds 6 programs up to $750,000 each. Focuses on long-term scientific research, biotechnology, and regulatory alignment.
- Cochran Fellowship Program ($1.050M total): Funds 7 programs up to $150,000 each. Focuses on short-term hands-on training for international buyers and regulatory officials.
High-priority trade objectives & regional targets:
Selected U.S. institutions will host international fellows to directly advance 4 critical U.S. trade priorities:
- Expand markets for softwood lumber in Vietnam’s growing manufacturing and construction sectors by demonstrating the quality, grading and structural applications of American wood.
- Increase market access for U.S. poultry and consumer products in Uzbekistan and Egypt by showcasing America’s food safety standards, building trust with buyers and government officials.
- Advance biotechnology across North Africa and Southeast Asia by encouraging science-based regulations that increase opportunities for U.S. exports of genetically engineered corn, soy, and distillers dried grains.
- Lower non-tariff trade barriers tied to gene editing in Egypt by establishing a peer-to-peer scientific partnership with government researchers, helping align Egypt’s technical standards with U.S. feed and food frameworks.
U.S. colleges and universities, land-grant institutions, and State cooperative institutions are eligible to apply. If selected, partners will be required to design curriculum, provide technical mentorship, manage travel logistics, and report on measurable trade impacts.
How to apply:
The full program criteria, specific country allocations, and submission portals are live on Grants.gov at:
- Norman E. Borlaug International Agricultural Science and Technology Fellowship Program FY2026
- Cochran Fellowship Programs FY2026
The deadline to apply for both programs is August 14, 2026, 11:59 pm EST.
Source: USDA-FAS Newsroom, June 16, 2026
The Argentine company Kheiron Biotech hosted a delegation from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in San Antonio de Areco, Buenos Aires province . The delegation included officials and representatives from the U.S. agricultural and biotechnology sectors. The visit took place within the framework of the bilateral agreement signed between Argentina and the United States in February 2016 and aimed to learn about the company's advancements in equine cloning , precision genetic improvement , and new applications of animal biotechnology —areas in which the firm is a leading international player.
The delegation toured the facilities of Kheiron Biotech and Doña Sofía Genética, where they were able to observe firsthand the research and development processes that the company carries out in the areas of animal reproduction and advanced genetic selection. Among the visitors were Martin Sieber, President and CEO of U.S. Livestock Genetics Export, and Edward Newburn, Senior Advisor in USDA's Office of the Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs, as well as other representatives from the U.S. agricultural sector.
The activity was part of the official mission headed by Luke Lindberg, USDA's Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign and Foreign Agricultural Affairs, who came to the country to deepen the cooperation agenda derived from the bilateral agreement signed this year between both governments.
Source: Agroempresario, Desarrollo Económico & Social, Negocios & Estrategias, June 9, 2026
USDA launched a Trade Reciprocity for U.S. Manufacturers and Producers (TRUMP) mission to Argentina and Ecuador to open new markets and strengthen export opportunities for U.S. farmers, ranchers and producers. Built on reciprocal trade and investment agreements signed with Argentina and Ecuador earlier this year, the mission led by USDA’s Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs, Luke J. Lindberg, aims to increase fair access to 2 of the Western Hemisphere’s fastest-growing markets.
In 2025 alone, the U.S. exported $166 million in seeds, essential oils, livestock genetics, tree nuts and more to Argentina. The same year, $595 million in agricultural products were exported to Ecuador, including soybean meal, wheat, and other feeds and fodders.
Staff from USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service will lead industry tours, host business-to-business meetings, and meet with Argentine and Ecuadorian officials to support U.S. trade priorities and U.S. agricultural producers. The delegation includes representatives from
- California Almonds – Modesto, Calif.
- USA Poultry & Egg Export Council – Tucker, Ga.
- U.S. Grains and Bioproducts Council – Washington, D.C.
- U.S. Livestock Genetics Export, Inc. – Mount Horeb, Wis.
- U.S. Meat Export Federation – Denver, Colo.
- U.S. Soybean Export Council – Chesterfield, Mo.
- U.S. Wheat Associates – Arlington, Va.
This is USDA’s 4th TRUMP mission of 2026. TRUMP missions provide rapid response to new market opportunities, directly connecting U.S farmers and producers with foreign buyers and governments to negotiate improved access, promote fair trade, and ensure the benefits of overseas trade flow back to the farms, ranches, and rural communities that sustain U.S. agriculture.
For more information on USDA trade missions, visit fas.usda.gov/topics/trade-missions.
Source: USDA-FAS Newsroom, June 2, 2026
On April 1, Nigeria announced the 2026 Fiscal Policy Measures and Tariff Amendments, which eliminate (or gradually reduce to 0) nearly all the import adjustment taxes on agricultural imports. Extra duties on U.S. wheat imports, valued at $466 million in 2025, are expected to be reduced from 15 to 0% by April 1. Import adjustment taxes will be eliminated by April 1 (or gradually reduced over 10 years) on other key U.S. exports including live animals for breeding, animal feed products, ethanol, and rice. In addition, the revised import prohibition list (Annex III) maintains 73 agricultural and related products (by HS code) on the list, while removing 77 products from the previous import prohibition list.
Source: USDA Foreign Agricultural Service, Global Agricultural Information Network Report NI2026-0010
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