Winegrapes Reduce Labor and USMCA Meeting
From the Western Ag Network, I’m Bob Larson with your Agribusiness Update.
**California farmworkers suffered a wave of job losses the past few years as work in the state’s winegrape vineyards dried up amid a market slump.
Since 2023, declining wine consumption left growers with an oversupply of grapes, forcing many to sell their fruit at a loss or watch it rot on the vines.
To limit losses, growers cut back on labor and other costs and removed an estimated one-quarter of the state’s winegrape acreage.
**U.S. dairy groups are welcoming plans to include dairy products in tariff reductions under the new U.S.-China Board of Trade.
The National Milk Producers Federation and U.S. Dairy Export Council say the development could improve market access for American dairy exporters, although the tariff relief won’t take effect immediately.
NMPF President Gregg Doud says retaliatory tariffs have put U.S. dairy at a disadvantage in China, and they want those tariffs removed.
**U.S., Mexican, and Canadian officials are meeting this week in Calgary as part of the Tri-National Agricultural Accord, with ag trade and the future of the USMCA among the talking points.
The Agricultural Coalition for USMCA says trade with Canada and Mexico remains important to U.S. agriculture and rural communities.
Agricultural and seafood exports to the two countries generated $149 billion in U.S. economic output in 2024.
