Soybeans are planted on more than 1 million acres in Tennessee and among the state's agricultural products heavily affected by international trade. Photo by J. Stefanski, courtesy UTIA.

TRENTON, TN — Farmers and agriculture leaders who are interested in hearing the current assessment of international trade and its impact on U.S. and Tennessee agriculture should plan to gather in Trenton the evening of November 14.

Andrew Muhammad, an international trade expert who serves as the chair of Excellence in Agricultural, Food and Natural Resource Policy for the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, will serve as the featured speaker at a discussion designed to enhance awareness and understanding of agriculture trade and international agriculture marketing. The seminar is sponsored by UT Extension, the Tennessee Department of Agriculture and the UT Center for Profitable Agriculture.

“Exports and international agriculture markets are a significant factor in the overall domestic agriculture economy,” said Rob Holland, director of the UT Center for Profitable Agriculture. “We hope many area farmers and agriculture leaders in northwest Tennessee will attend this opportunity to learn more about current international trade issues and their impact on agriculture.”

“Farmers need to be mindful of international trade issues as they can impact their overall profitability, said UT Extension Area Farm Management Specialist Danny Morris. “International trade issues have a large influence on the price of all major commodities produced in West Tennessee. We are excited to have Dr. Muhammad come and speak to our farmers about these very important topics and how they impact agriculture here at the local level,” he added.

Muhammad plans to address these topics in his discussion:
• Overall outlook for U.S. and Tennessee agricultural exports
• How the trade war is affecting key agricultural sectors such as corn, soybeans and beef
• Pending trade agreements and implications for agricultural trade
• Importance of Tennessee forest products exports.

As a professor in the UT Herbert College of Agriculture Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Muhammad focuses on assisting agricultural decision makers in the evaluation of opportunities, policies and programs on international trade. His current research focuses on agricultural trade and trade policy, global competitiveness of U.S. agriculture, effects of trade on developing countries and global food demand. His work aims to enhance decision making by farmers, agribusinesses and policy makers on international trade and trade policy issues. Muhammad previously served as Associate Director of the Markets and Trade Economics Division of the Economic Research Service within the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Washington, D.C. He has written 49 refereed journal articles and approximately 30 reports and other publications, including peer-reviewed USDA reports.

The event will take place on Thursday, November 14, 2019, beginning with a meal at 6 p.m. CST at Crenshaw’s Catfish Cookers Restaurant, 314 Poplar Corner Road, Trenton, Tenn., 38382. The event is free to the public; however, pre-registration is required by November 11 by contacting Danny Morris at 731-855-7656 or danhmorr@utk.edu.

Through its mission of research, teaching and extension, the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture touches lives and provides Real. Life. Solutions. ag.tennessee.edu.