No. 6 Islanders Set Sails for Championship with Win Over No. 2 Ladyjacks
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (17-15) will play in their first tournament championship since losing to Lamar in the 2010 title game.“For these players to have come through what they come through to have an opportunity to play…our radio guy said, ‘coach, it’s the 16th of March,” said Islanders coach Royce Chadwick. “You’re playing on the 16th of March, your team has done something right.”SFA (25-6) had one last chance to force overtime, but Makinna Serrata swiped a pass intended for Stephanie Visscher with a second on the clock to preserve the victory.Visscher pushed the Ladyjacks to within 56-55 when she knocked down a 3-pointer with 1:11 left in the game. Aiyana Johnson hit the first of two free throws to tie the score with 28 seconds left but missed the second, setting the stage for Young’s heroics.The Islanders clamped down defensively on SFA in the decisive fourth quarter, holding the Ladyjacks to 4-for-13 shooting (30.8 percent). Coach Mark Kellogg’s squad did not help their cause from the free throw line, where they finished 4-for-9.WBB: Dalesia Booth either made a mistake or a prediction, placing @IslandersWBB on the big backstage bracket champion line…Giana Wright fixed it! @IslandCampus advanced to face @ACUedu in Sunday’s title tilt. 1 pm CT on @CBSSportsNet. #ShakasUp #SouthlandStrong ?? pic.twitter.com/e1ywLlAFmT— #SouthlandStrong (@SouthlandSports) March 16, 2019 It was free throws that kept the Islanders in the game, especially in the third quarter where they hit 10-of-12 attempts from the line. The ability to get to the charity stripe offset A&M-Corpus Christi’s 20- percent shooting (2-for-10) from the field in the third quarter, allowing them to go into the fourth quarter with a 45-44 lead.The lead changed hands 13 times and the game had 11 ties. Neither team had a lead of larger than six points.SFA was unable to get into a long-range groove, hitting just 4-of-19 attempts from beyond the arc.“We just couldn’t make the shots,” said SFA guard BriAnna Mitchell, who had four points. “We had some good shots, but we just couldn’t make them.”The Islanders were able to fluster SFA’s All-Conference first team duo of Chanell Hayes and Imani Johnson, who were a combined 5-for-14 from the field. The shooting of Visscher (12 points) and reserve Aiyana Johnson, who scored a game-high 18 points, were the marks of consistency for the Ladyjacks, who shot 43.6 percent from the field.Despite the loss, Kellogg felt optimistic about SFA’s chances to bounce back from the loss and compete wherever his team is placed in the postseason on Monday night.“It’s tremendous for the program,” he said. “It’s a reward for the great regular season we had together. We’ll be excited to regroup, I can promise you that.”ACU won both regular-season games against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. The Wildcats triumphed at home in a 78-71 decision on January 30, before heading south to defeat the Islanders 73-64 on February 27. Box Score | Photo GalleryKATY, Texas – Emma Young had one field goal in the first 39 minutes of play on Saturday. She will never forget her second basket.The Texas A&M-Corpus Christi sophomore guard scored on a layup with :03 seconds left in the fourth quarter to lift the No.6-seed Islanders past No. 2-seed Stephen F. Austin in a 58-56 thriller at the Merrell Center on Saturday afternoon in Katy, putting the Islanders in Sunday’s championship game against No. 4-seed Abilene Christian at 1 p.m. CT (CBS Sports Network). At stake Sunday: The right to claim the conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Tournament.“I flushed that all out,” said Young, who was 1-for-5 from the field before her game-winner. “I just concentrated on playing defense wanting for my moment to come, and when it did, I rose to it.”WBB: “What a great play by Emma Young!” @IslandersWBB going to the ‘ship, where they’ll face @ACUWBB. 1 pm CT Sunday on @CBSSportsNet. #ShakasUp #SouthlandStrong ?? #ChampWeek pic.twitter.com/sxuodLXz3K— #SouthlandStrong (@SouthlandSports) March 16, 2019
His second goal of the season after which he scored for Leganés at the Bernabéu, on October 30, 2019. Also in that case it was a goal without weight for the final result, the fifth of the white win in the prolongation. That is Jovic’s next mission, to convert the occasions that come to him in moments of much more substance., only in this way will it become essential for a Zidane who, despite the relief that his new goal means, asks for more. It was only five minutes, two of the regulation time and three more of extension, but Luka Jovic was worth it in Pamplona to teach the ‘little leg’, to leave the forgetfulness in which he had fallen in recent weeks, mainly due to his lack of performance. The opportunities have been scarce and not too continuous, but he knows that he has been able to do more and that in the future he must replicate his role in El Sadar against Osasuna: a shot, a goal. Volley with the left after pass of Fede Valverde when the duel vanished. “I’m glad for him, I needed him, he’s a pure striker to whom you can tell him a lot of things, that he’s fine, that he plays well, but if he doesn’t score a goal … he’s not happy. He has to improve, but I’m glad for his goal, it will come in handy, “said the white coach after the win over Osasuna (1-4). The relief of which Zidane speaks is real, since Jovic has let not a few trains pass in recent weeks: he started in Zaragoza, in the two matches of the Spanish Super Cup played in Saudi Arabia, at the Bernabéu against Sevilla … Only this last time he left something to remember, with that heel to attend Casemiro. But Jovic himself knows that he has a long way to go to return to be the striker who dazzled last season at the Eintracht in Frankfurt, with 27 goals in just over 3,300 minutes. “I am not happy with my season, at least so far, I know I can improve. Sometimes I watch videos from me on YouTube last year and I wonder: “What’s wrong with me?”. We all know that Real Madrid is a great club and that for experienced players it is very difficult to get used to it, much more for a 21-year-old for which they have paid 60 million. The pressure is very great, I fight for now without success. But I hope the situation changes. I still feel a negative atmosphere when talking about my game at Real Madrid, but I am going to show people the reason why I am here, that I have quality and the children will be able to look at me for many years and motivate themselves with my games and goals with the Madrid shirt, ”he said recently in a middle of his country. His goal in Pamplona may have been the first step of that reconstruction that Jovic talks about to channel a season, so far, disappointing: a goal and two assists in 22 games and 764 minutes.
China population now over 1.4 billion as birthrate falls Carpio hits red carpet treatment for China Coast Guard PLAY LIST 02:14Carpio hits red carpet treatment for China Coast Guard02:56NCRPO pledges to donate P3.5 million to victims of Taal eruption00:56Heavy rain brings some relief in Australia02:37Calm moments allow Taal folks some respite03:23Negosyo sa Tagaytay City, bagsak sa pag-aalboroto ng Bulkang Taal01:13Christian Standhardinger wins PBA Best Player award “[Abueva rejoining Gilas practice is] not a guarantee because he still has to earn his spot in the final 12 with [depending] on how he practices because we have different members here and Calvin knows that,” Reyes said as posted on ESPN5.Also reportedly back training for Gilas is naturalized big man Andray Blatche, who arrived in Manila Saturday night.Sports Related Videospowered by AdSparcRead Next Winfrey details her decision to withdraw from Simmons film Jury of 7 men, 5 women selected for Weinstein rape trial Steam emission over Taal’s main crater ‘steady’ for past 24 hours Lights inside SMX hall flicker as Duterte rants vs Ayala, Pangilinan anew DepEd’s Taal challenge: 30K students displaced MOST READ FILE PHOTO – Calvin Abueva. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.netCalvin Abueva finally showed up after going AWOL since the PBA All-Star break.In a report by ESPN5’s Richard Dy and JC Ansis, Abueva joined Gilas Pilipinas practice on Monday at Meralco Gym.ADVERTISEMENT
Troubled Djokovic to play Wimbledon warm-up at Queen’s Club Abueva had been nowhere to be found after playing in the All-Star Game in Iloilo more than two weeks ago.The 30-year-old forward reappeared three days after the Alaska Aces released a statement announcing that they have decided to place Abueva under indefinite suspension for failing to report to the team.FEATURED STORIESSPORTSGinebra beats Meralco again to capture PBA Governors’ Cup titleSPORTSAfter winning title, time for LA Tenorio to give back to Batangas folkSPORTSTim Cone, Ginebra set their sights on elusive All-Filipino crownIn the statement, the Aces gave Abueva the green light to suit up for the national team if Gilas Pilipinas coach Chot Reyes opts to give him a slot in the lineup for the third window of the Fiba World Cup Asian qualifiers.Reyes, however, reportedly cleared that resurfacing in practice doesn’t guarantee Abueva a spot in the final roster. View comments In fight vs corruption, Duterte now points to Ayala, MVP companies as ‘big fish’ Volcano watch: Island fissures steaming, lake water receding Don’t miss out on the latest news and information. LATEST STORIES Dave Chappelle donates P1 million to Taal relief operations
Chelsea are ready to rekindle their interest in defender Aymen Abdennour, according to reports in Italy.The Blues tried to sign the centre-back from Monaco last summer, but they missed out as Valencia won the race for his signature.The Spanish club have struggled this season, though, and the Tunisia international is ready to jump ship after just one season.Chelsea, according to TMW, are keen on Abdennour as he is one of the names on Antonio Conte’s summer shopping list.The incoming Italian boss has earmarked the defence as an area that needs to be strengthened at Stamford Bridge and the club have also been linked with Juventus’ Leonardo Bonucci.Chelsea once again are likely to face competition in the pursuit of Abdennour, with AC Milan and Atletico Madrid also monitoring the situation. 1 Chelsea target Aymen Abdennour in La Liga action against Cristiano Ronaldo 
A first-class line-up of dancers and choreographers are coming to Letterkenny this August to share their expertise and inspire young local performers.Well-known Letterkenny teacher and arts figure Andrea Emmett has booked an all-star schedule for her Triumph Performing Arts Summer School at Aura Leisure Centre Letterkenny. Professional tutors from theatre and dance circuits in Dublin and London will be delivering exciting masterclasses in their chosen art form throughout the week.Triumph Performing Arts Summer School will run from Wednesday 8th – Saturday 11th August. The camp is open to all young people aged from 6-18+ and spaces are limited. Places can be secured this Saturday, May 5th at an open registration at the Aura Leisure Centre from 12-3pm. Masterclass Tutors include: Adam Fogarty ( commercial and hip hop dancer : credits include Rita ora and black eyed peas) top left : Emanuella and Anita Salako ( specialise in African dance and Dancehall)Bottom right: Brian Gillespie (choreographer/ founder of dance company B-Hybrid based in London) and bottom left: Jose Galang ( urban choreographer at Fly Dance Studios Dublin)The Summer School is a dream project of Andrea’s, whose passion for arts education inspired her to set up Triumph Performing Arts. Triumph provides workshops in acting, various styles of dance and musical theatre for young people aged 4-22. Andrea is looking forward to welcoming a team of talented choreographers to the school this August.She said: “Although there have been huge improvements and opportunities created in this town for the arts , I wanted the children to be inspired by these young talented professionals that are currently working in the industry.“This summer school caters for a huge variety of dance styles from contemporary to urban choreography. Acting / musical theatre dance workshops will also be available.“I would have wished for workshops like these as a young impressionable teenager in Donegal with a love for performance so if you’re interested please get in touch.”Andrea won best supporting actress award and acting scholarship during the Irish Amateur Drama Festival Circuit 2017.Andrea’s creative expertise in dance and acting stems from her studies in contemporary dance, jazz, hip hop, theatre and performance and her many years of experience directing and choreographing local productions.She facilitates school workshops, entitled ‘Creative Movement’, which focus on a creative process that allows children to explore the full potential of movement and drama as a learning experience.“Growing up in Donegal I found there wasn’t enough arts opportunities available and I wanted to create a platform for children to enjoy the art form for what it is without the stress of competition and comparison. I hoped that arts opportunities could be on their doorstep, if they wanted a place to go to relieve stress and become lost on the dance floor. “After working full time in Dublin as a primary teacher, I knew that coming back to Letterkenny to create more dance opportunities was something I was very passionate about.”Andrea as Rose ( far left) in Lifford players production of Dancing at Lugnasa (2018)“I also strive to continue to develop myself professionally so that I am up to date with dance and acting techniques that are current! Fortunately I gained significant experience in acting after completing the Worklab courses hosted by An Grianan and I thoroughly enjoyed them,” Andrea said.Andrea obtained a distinction in completion of the HNC Performing Arts course in Derry and has since been signed to Nova Artists Acting Agency. Locally, she has choreographed Hairspray (2017), Dancing at Lughnasa (2018) that won various adjudicator awards at this year’s Amateur Drama Festival and very recently Footloose (2018) for a cast of 125 teens in TY Loreto Secondary School and St. Eunan’s College.Footloose 2018. Photo credit : Annette SweeneyFootloose 2018. Photo credit : Annette SweeneyPhoto credit : Annette SweeneyFootloose 2018. Photo credit : Annette SweeneyAndrea adds: “My lessons are fun and versatile, supporting individuality but also encouraging co-operation. It is vital that emphasis is not on the ‘performance’, but is centred on the development of the student and their chosen art form.” The Triumph Performing Arts Summer School will be a summer highlight for many young people in Donegal. If you would like to register a place and meet Andrea, visit the Aura Leisure Centre on May 5th from 12-3pm. A €10 deposit is required to book.For further information, call 0876142263Check out: www.facebook.com/performingartstriumphSponsored PostDonegal woman sets up star-studded Summer School was last modified: May 2nd, 2018 by Rachel McLaughlinShare this:Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)Click to print (Opens in new window)Tags:actingandrea emmettArtschildrenDANCEKidssummer campSUMMER SCHOOLtheatretriump performing arts
Buncrana Youth Drop-In, main street Buncrana, has a homework/study Club every Friday evening between 4 & 5pm for all secondary school students.There is also the possibility of free grinds for certain subjects.“Why not come along and find out what we can offer you,” said organiser Jessica Dalton. “This new club will be supervised by Garda vetted Youth Workers.”For further information contact; Jessica on 0863627300. STUDY CLUB LAUNCHED IN BUNCRANA was last modified: January 11th, 2014 by John2Share this:Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)Click to print (Opens in new window) Tags:STUDY CLUB LAUNCHED IN BUNCRANA
A freshly planted clump of daffodils the following springI had great feedback from the Aloe Vera piece from last week, so much so that I gave some away at the Letterkenny Artisan Market this weekend. This week we’re thinking ahead to Spring colour with Daffodils, I know…I know…summer’s not even over yet!But in my defence gardening is all about forward planning, and the earlier you plan for any event the easier it all works out! An look, your potatoes for Christmas are growing away already, that is if you followed our advice the other week?!? Daffodils are the main stay of the spring flowering bulb world, outselling every other bulb by significant amounts, and compared to some (ie Tulips) are a lot more resilient in their growth and flowering habit than others. Daffodils planted now will reward you with colour for many, many years.Daffodils are a bulb, and the bulb itself it a modified root, aimed at storing energy for use in the next growing season. So the first top tip with Daffodils is never cut or fold them back after they’ve finished flowers, you desperately need all that green energy to return back to the bulb to give them the energy to flower and to multiply the following year.Simple bulb planting…square out 4 bulbs in…square back on!Tying up the daffodil leaves into bunches doesn’t work, just leave them alone folks! When you tie them into bunches you break the internal structures of the leaves and the goodness can’t return to the bulbs…Let’s start with the establishment of daffodils, new bulbs love well worked soil, with a good amount of organic matter (ie compost, leaf mould etc), many bulbs are naturally found in the forest floor layer, so try to mimic these conditions when your planting, they’ll happily colonise areas below mature trees and shrubs, as long as you can provide enough moisture through happy soil (so again organic matter is key). If your ground is very wet sometimes daffodils can rot in the winter months, so in very wet sites plant the daffodils onto some grit in the planting holes, this will help to dry their feet. Feeding of daffodils is important if you’re looking to get quality blooms, when you plant include the aforementioned compost, there is no real benefit of applying fertiliser that this time. The best time to apply some chicken manure pellets to the daffs is just when they’re poking their heads up through the soil, say mid January, feeding them at this early stage helps to provide sustenance for the current seasons growth. After the bulbs finish flowering the bulb then goes into growth mode, the leaves elongate and the plant sets about gathering as much energy as possible to store for next year, during this time a liquid feed with a high potash feed, comfry or tomato fertiliser, will boost the flower bud development in the plant, giving you better quality blooms next season.Dead-heading is important…alas isn’t it always in Horticulture! Once the blooms have wilted remove just the flower head (leave the stem) this prevents the plant in wasting energy producing unwanted seeds, again improving bloom quality for next year. Try to leave the stem behind, as although its lot a leave there is still a certain amount of photosynthesis takes place on the stem. When the leaves start to yellow its safe then to cut these off as any energy which is being stockpiled for next year has travelled to the bulb within the green pigment.Good thick border of daffodils after 5 yearsWhen it comes to planting…more is always better, never plant a single bulb, always plant in clumps or groups….I think that the single line of daffodils dotted up the side of a driveway lacks any impact, I always prefer the clumps of daffodils planted rather than this single line of monotony. On a small scale rather than putting one bulb in a hole, dig a square hole with a spade and put 4 in the hole, this way you get more impact in yr1, and you have to dig less holes. Bulbs multiply in the ground by producing small ‘bulblets’ at the side of the main bulb, this happens on a yearly basis, this bulblet will in turn produce a small shoot in yr1, in yr2 this will get a big bigger and by yr 3 you can separate these off the parent bulb and plant out individually (if you wish) as they will have flowering capacity by this stage. Alternatively leave the clump of daffodils alone and after 10 years dig the clump up after flowering one year, split the bulbs up by hand, replanting some back with good spacing into enriched soil and then plant the rest into fresh soil around the garden…..we do love our plants for free!Daffodils are largely free from pests and diseases in our part of the world, in other geographical areas daffodils can suffer from Narcissi eelworm, which is a small nematode which tunnels into the bulbs and eats the inside. There is very few animals which choose to eat daffodils due to the poisonous lycorine and calcium oxalate crystals which are contained in their leaves, so rabbits, deer and the likes will largely leave them alone, apart from the odd taste nibble they give everything.Choosing Daffodils is where it gets fun and addictive, there are 25 different species of daffodils are over 13,000 cultivars available, with new varieties appearing every year. So there are literally daffodils for every situation in the garden, from the miniature 3” tall to the traditional golden trumpeted types. A trip to a good garden will reveal a wide selection, suitable for planting now, and even a few for forcing indoors (look out for Paperwhites) and Tete a Tete…which is an everpopular multi-headed type. And even if you have 100 different types of daffodils…there are (at least) 12,900 more types waiting for you out there! I’ve fallen in love with the dwarf and rockery types of daffodils, these teeny tiny 4” tall beauties demand you stop and stoop down in early spring to admire their complexity, my kids believe these are planted to decorate the fairy-folks garden….gardening is different things to different people . A garden in Donegal which is great to see Daffodils next Spring? Has to be Foxrock in Greencastle, Margot Caldwells garden is a botanical paradise of daffodils…some amazing varieties and types have been combined to create a long flowering season (you get early and late flowering daffodils)….a must if you have an interest in the Daffodil group of plants.I was impressed by the range of daffodils in The Garden Centre in Letterkenny, Robert Kees Garden Centre in Laghey and The Flower Pot in Creeslough on my travels this week, all very well stocked with bulbs….so get out and plant some daffodils this weekend!Next Week….Hedge your bets…how to age a hedgerow and more.Gareth Austin Gareth Austin is resident Horticulturist with BBC Radio Foyle, a member of the Chartered Institute of Horticulturists and Horticultural Lecturer with the National Learning Network. For more see www.garethaustin.com or join Gareth on Twitter @GardenerGareth .GARDENING WITH GARETH – THOUGHTS OF SPRING COLOUR ….ALREADY! was last modified: September 21st, 2015 by StephenShare this:Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)Click to print (Opens in new window)Tags:daffodilsdonegalGardeningGareth Austin
QPR have agreed a fee in the region of £1.5m with Belgian club Anderlecht for striker Idrissa Sylla.The Guinea international, 25, is due in London to discuss personal terms ahead of a possible pre-deadline move to Loftus Road.Rangers are keen to sign at least one striker before Wednesday night’s deadline and Sylla is one of several options they have been considering.West London Sport also revealed today that QPR have agreed a fee with Barnsley for Cole Kpekawa.Barnsley made an offer for the defender last week and after Rangers quickly indicated that they would be willing to sell him, the two clubs struck a deal worth around £450,000.Many QPR fans on Twitter have reacted with dismay to the news that Kpekawa could be leaving.Meanwhile, young R’s goalkeeper Joe Lumley has agreed terms on a new contract at Loftus Road.The club are keen to extend Lumley’s deal and send him out on loan this week.And manager Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has paid tribute to Rangers captain Nedum Onuoha, saying he ‘brings calmness and leads by example.’Follow West London Sport on TwitterFind us on Facebook
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Share Facebook Twitter Google + LinkedIn Pinterest September was another solid month for U.S. red meat exports, with pork, beef and lamb totals well above year-ago levels, according to statistics released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF).September beef export volume was 101,224 metric tons (mt) — down slightly from August, but 27% above last September. Third-quarter volume was 307,383 mt, the largest since the fourth quarter of 2014. For January through September, export volume was 8% above last year’s pace at 848,930 mt. September export value was up 17% from a year ago to $533.3 million. For the first three quarters of 2016, export value was $4.54 billion, down 5% from a year ago.Beef exports accounted for 13.5% of total beef production in September and 10% for muscle cuts only. January-September ratios were also 13.5% and 10%, up slightly from a year ago. Export value per head of fed slaughter averaged $256.98 in September, the first year-over-year increase (up 10%) of 2016. Through September, export value averaged $253 per head, down 10% from last year.September pork export volume was 183,936 mt — also down slightly from August but up 7% from a year ago. For January through September, export volume was 5% above last year’s pace at 1.66 million mt. September export value was up 8% from a year ago to $491 million, while January-September export value was $4.27 billion, up 1% from the same period last year.Exports accounted for 24% of total pork production in September and 20% for muscle cuts only. January-September ratios were 25% and 21%, up slightly from last year, mainly reflecting growth in variety meat exports to China/Hong Kong. Export value per head slaughtered averaged $48.29 in September, up 3% year-over-year. January-September export value was down slightly, averaging $49.24.“Red meat exports continued to build positive momentum in September, and it couldn’t come at a better time,” said Philip Seng, USMEF president and CEO. “We have large supplies of pork and beef hitting the market and moving these higher volumes is certainly a challenge. But this is also presenting expanded opportunities in the international markets, as we are able to introduce new cuts and value-added products, and recapture market share from our key competitors.”Seng noted that while the upward trend in export volume is encouraging, it is also critical that exports contribute to carcass value and deliver returns for the entire supply chain. For example, per-unit values for pork exports have trended higher since June, and chilled beef exports to Asia are performing exceptionally well this year.September beef exports reach new milestones in Japan, KoreaSeptember beef exports were led by tremendous year-over-year growth in Japan (22,882 mt, up 49% year-over-year) and South Korea (14,840 mt, up 75%). Export value in these markets also surged, up 32% in Japan ($132.1 million) and 83% in Korea ($86.6 million). Japan’s imports of U.S. chilled beef surpassed chilled imports from Australia for the first time ever in September, and based on preliminary October data Korea’s total beef imports from the U.S. also topped Australian beef. For January through September, U.S. beef exports to Japan were up 20% in volume to 193,457 mt and increased 11% in value to $1.12 billion. Exports to Korea were up 33% in volume (122,695 mt) and reached $715.5 million in value — up 17% from a year ago and on pace to exceed the 2014 full-year record of $847.4 million.Other January-September highlights for U.S. beef exports include: Strong September results pushed exports to Taiwan 12% ahead of last year’s pace in volume (30,064 mt) and up 2% in value ($245.6 million). The U.S. holds two-thirds of the chilled beef market in Taiwan, the highest share of any Asian market.Despite a persistently weak peso, beef exports to Mexico were up 8% from a year ago to 174,667 mt, including a 10% increase in muscle cuts (90,724 mt). Export value to Mexico has trended lower this year, down 9% for total exports ($732.5 million) and 10% for muscle cuts ($538 million).While January-September exports to Hong Kong were lower in both volume (74,945 mt, down 5%) and value ($452.5 million, down 20%), September was the second consecutive month of solid year-over-year growth. September exports totaled 9,715 mt (up 19%) valued at ($59.5 million, up 17%).Fueled by strong growth in Indonesia and Vietnam, exports to the ASEAN region increased 18% to 17,797 mt, though value fell 5% to $97.4 million. Exports to Indonesia are well-positioned for a strong finish in 2016 following the recent easing of import restrictions in an effort to address the tight beef supply situation. Strong momentum continues for pork exports to MexicoAfter a somewhat slow first half of the year, pork exports to Mexico moved higher in August and continued to climb in September — posting the second-largest monthly volume on record (66,567 mt, up 14% from a year ago). September value to Mexico was $131.4 million, up 25% from a year ago and the highest since December 2014. For January through September, exports to Mexico pulled within 4% of last year’s record pace in volume (510,737 mt) and moved 1% higher in value ($939.7 million). USMEF’s efforts to bolster pork demand in Mexico continue to pay dividends, as per capita pork consumption has increased nearly 20% since 2011 and now exceeds 40 pounds per year.Another positive factor for pork exports to Mexico has been the slowdown in shipments to China/Hong Kong, where the product mix tends to be similar. While still well above last year, September exports to China/Hong Kong (36,184 mt, up 26%) were down significantly from the May peak of 58,000 mt, reflecting a rebound in China’s domestic pork production. For January through September, exports to China/Hong Kong were up 70% from a year ago in volume (406,422 mt) and 57% higher in value ($787.3 million).Other January-September highlights for U.S. pork exports include: While pork exports to Japan were below last year’s pace in both volume (289,594 mt, down 8%) and value ($1.16 billion, down 5%), higher-value chilled exports remain on a record pace — climbing 10% from a year ago to 164,087 mt. During periods of large U.S. production, chilled exports to Japan provide an especially important outlet for loins and butts.A rebound in Korea’s pork production led to a slow start for U.S. exports in 2016, but exports to Korea are poised for a strong finish as September results moved higher year-over-year for the second consecutive month. Compared to last year’s large totals, January-September exports to Korea were down 27% in volume (94,774 mt) and 33% in value ($252.1 million).Exports to Colombia have slowed in 2016 (24,851 mt, down 22%, valued at $56 million, down 30%) due to a spike in domestic pork production and other headwinds, including the weak Colombian peso. But exports to Colombia rebounded in September, climbing 35% in volume (3,456 mt) and 29% in value ($8.2 million).Pork exports to Central America cooled in September but remain well above last year’s pace in 2016, totaling 46,426 mt (up 16%) valued at $110 million (up 11%). Exports were higher year-over-year in mainstay markets Honduras and Guatemala and more than doubled to Nicaragua, as every Central American market except Belize is currently a top 20 volume destination for U.S. pork. Lamb exports improve in SeptemberSeptember exports of U.S. lamb totaled 740 mt, up 19% from last year’s low volume, while export value was $1.68 million — up 26% from a year ago and matching the highest monthly value of 2016. Exports to leading market Mexico edged higher in September and it was also a strong month for exports to the Bahamas, Canada and the Philippines. For January through September, lamb exports were 3% below last year’s pace in volume (6,520 mt) and down 7% in value ($13.4 million).
