Corona virus and ag

2020 should be a better year for U.S. agricultural product exports. USDA’s chief economist Rob Johanson telling the USDA Outlook Forum “U.S. ag exports are forecast at $139.5. That's up 4 billion from last year.” China, we're forecasting right now at 14 billion, up from 10 billion last year.”

And yes, that forecast, however, was for the fiscal year that began in October, months before the signing of the u.s.-china trade deal and the trade agreement commitments by China were for the calendar year. So Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue told reporters here at the forum that as far as the $14 billion purchase figure for China,… “we expect to exceed that certainly”. in this calendar year. The wild card being the slowdown in trade caused by the Corona virus. But Perdue said….” we think they will come. I'm hoping certainly by the spring. How long the Corona virus is going to last. I don't know, but we hope it's on the decrease.” But he said he's optimistic China will do its best to meet its purchase commitments.