**2018 was, if nothing else, unpredictable, and it looks like that may continue for the dairy industry in 2019.

Monica Ganley, analyst with the Daily Dairy Report, tells milkbusiness.com, it’s critical for the U.S. to continue defending its market dominance in Mexico and the USMCA would continue the favorable tariff treatment NAFTA offered.

Despite last year’s heated rhetoric around trade negotiations and border security, 2018 turned out to be a very strong year for dairy trade between the two nations.

**The 2018 farm bill is the first farm bill written, passed by Congress and signed into law in the same year since 1990.

University of Missouri Food and Ag Research director, Pat Westhoff tells Agweb.com, for grain, oilseed, cotton and sugar producers, the new farm bill retains most key aspects of the farm safety net, including crop insurance.

One significant change to the bill allows growers to eventually choose between Price Loss Coverage and Ag Risk Coverage annually starting in 2021.

 

**The Trump administration is expressing optimism a “reasonable” trade deal with China can be reached as President Xi Jinping dispatched one of his top aides to negotiations on a lasting truce to a conflict that’s disrupted financial markets.

According to agweb.com, on Monday, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross says there’s a very good chance we’ll get a reasonable settlement China can live with, that we can live with, and that addresses all the key issues.

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