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NEWS

Russia Bans Some Poultry Imports

Russia has banned imports from 19 U.S. poultry suppliers as of Monday and could add another 29 companies. Russian officials say the ban was issued because those companies use antibiotics and other chemicals in their products. However, American officials say the ban is in retaliation to U.S. officials criticizing Russia for the use of military force against Georgia. Among the companies targeted in the ban were Tyson, Peco and the Equity Group.

Meat Production to Cutback

The latest projections has meat production numbers cutting back over the next year.

EPA Upholds Ethanol Mandate…Upsetting Livestock Industry

EPAThe Environmental Protection Agency announced Thursday that it would deny a request by Texas Governor Rick Perry to reduce the Renewable Fuels Standard.

EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson says they carefully considered the more than 15,000 comments on the issue and found that “the RFS is not causing economic harm but is strengthening our nation’s energy security and supporting American farming communities.”

But there are many in the livestock industry disappointed with the EPA’s decision.

COOL Info Outreach

With implementation of mandatory Country of Origin Labeling just over six weeks away, USDA is working to assist retailers and food industry organizations in implementing mandatory Country of Origin labeling with outreach and information.

Suppliers and retailers are invited to a free webinar outlining COOL requirements from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 8. Pre-registration is required by Aug. 7 to participate. Click here to pre-register and receive audio dial-in instructions. Computer log-in instructions will be sent separately to all pre-registered attendees before the seminar.

COOL Interim Final Rule Issued

USDA has issued the interim final rule for Country of Origin Labeling and are seeking comments. Listen to report here: To learn more about the new COOL rule, click Here

New Rule for Meat Recalls

Due to many problems with meat recalls, new rules have been established and will start in a few weeks to help consumers better understand what needs to be done and where. 

Listen to report here:

Protecting Producers Against Activists

Many in animal agriculture may not realize it but there is a group out there watching your back everyday when it comes to threats from activists. Listen To wma Report (1:15 mp3)   To learn more log on to www.consumerfreedom.com

COOL to Include Grace Period

We are now less than 3 months from the implementation of Country of Origin Labeling, and while many are worried about being ready for the September 30th start date, Ag Secretary Ed Schafer says there will be a six-month grace period once it starts. Listen To wma Report (1:00 mp3)

AL Opens New Diagnostic Lab

A brand new and larger diagnostic lab is now open and running in Boaz, Alabama. Listen To wma Report (1:15 mp3)

USDA Lowers Meat Production Forecast

Due to rising feed prices, USDA has made changes to their meat production forecasts for the rest of this year and next year. Listen To MP3 Report (:40 mp3)

Tri-State Egg Meeting

Georgia, Florida and North Carolina are joining together for their annual meetings this year. The schedule includes an update from the American Egg Board and a Mid Atlantic Layer Management workshop. Georgia is hosting the meeting which will be held June 25-27 at the King and Prince Golf and Beach resort on St. Simon’s Island. Registration information is available from the Georgia Egg Association.

USDA Updates Poultry Improvement Plan

U.S.D.A. has released information concerning updated of their poultry improvement plan. Listen To MP3 Report (1:00 mp3)

Lee V. McCoy 1947-2008: “RealMcCoy” Will Be Sorely Missed

Lee McCoy Directs Traffic, acting as the admission sheriff at the 2006 Citrus Expo in Ft Myers FL It is with great sadness and tremendously heavy hearts we report of the passing of Lee V. McCoy, known to many of his legions of friends and colleagues as the “RealMcCoy”. Lee lost his battle with cancer early morning Thursday May 22 in a Georgia hospital, admitted the Monday before in a bout with pneumonia.

Please find details regarding Lee’s memorial services at the end of this news post.

For nearly a decade until making a move into a new career opportunity last year, Lee was a regional representative of this radio network. He travelled the region and nation, and occassionally overseas, newsgathering and representing the network from his home location Read the rest of this entry »

Meat Forecast Updated

From cattle, to hogs, to broilers the numbers have been updated as far as projections for 2008 stand with livestock prices. Report Listen To MP3 (1:00 mp3)

Animal ID Business Plan

A business plan has been released by USDA in their effort to get animal ID underway across the nation. Listen To MP3 Report (1:30 mp3)

04-09-08 AL Chicken & Egg Fest this Weekend

The annual Alabama Chicken & Egg Festival is set to take place this weekend in Moulton. Listen To MP3 Report (1:30 mp3)

             To learn more click Here

Livestock Income May be Down

According to figure’s put out by USDA, those in the livestock industry may be looking at lower total income in 2008. Listen To MP3 Report (1:00 mp3)

Eggciting New Events at Festival

CBNext month’s Alabama Chicken and Egg Festival features two new “eggciting” new contests this year.

The “Guitar Hero” contest and egg and spoon race join the egg toss, chicken wing and hard-boiled egg eating contests, Colonial Sanders look-a-like, “Catch-a-Falling-Egg” competition, chicken clucking contest and karaoke for big chickens.

The Alabama Chicken and Egg Festival is set for April 12 & 13 at the Lions Club Fairgrounds in Moulton.

Listen To MP3Report (1:00 mp3)

Funding Available for Energy Conservation Retrofits

USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service in Alabama and the state’s RC&D councils want to help farmers apply for energy conservation retrofits.

Listen To MP3 Report (1:00 mp3)

Alabama Trade Mission to Ukraine

Alabama Commissioner of Agriculture Ron Sparks recently returned from the Eastern European Country of Ukraine. Commissioner Sparks led the first American trade mission to participate in a food based trade show in Ukraine. The trade mission included three Alabama poultry related companies and the trade show component showcased six Alabama food product companies and four additional Southern based food product companies.

Listen To MP3 Report (1:00 mp3)

Animal ID Making Progress

Bruce KnightPremise registration is the first step in the overall animal identification process, and while more needs to be done, USDA Under Secretary Bruce Knight says progress is being made in that area. Listen To MP3 Report (1:00 mp3)

To learn more about Animal ID click Here

GA Agribusiness Council Atlanta Mtgs Draw Ag & Political Leaders

GAC Legislative Breakfast Draws Crowd of Ag Leaders and Lawmakers This week’s Annual Meeting and Legislative Breakfast Sunbelt Ag Expo's Chip Blalock (l) visits with ABAC Pres David Bridges at GAC Annual Mtg Dinnerevents hosted by the Georgia Agribusiness Council in Atlanta drew a good crowd of the state’s agriculture leaders, GA Ag Commissioner Tommy Irvin (r) visits with Buddy Leger fromk Cordele at the GAC Legislative Breakfastnumerous lawmakers and legislative staffers. One of the big news items of the day is the announcement by GA Governor Sonny Perdue that some of the watering restrictions in Georgia will be relaxed, GA Gov Sonny Perdue speaks to the GAC Legislative Breakfastfor now anyway, to help support the nursery industry and efforts by the public to establish new plantings of trees and shrubs. Governor Perdue also is set to sign a new state water bill today that Georgia agriculture industry leaders have been very involved in helping to develop. In the reports posted herein, hear Listen To wma Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue’s comments to the media (mp3)right after he spoke to the GAC breakfast this morning. Also hear GA Farm Bureau President Vincent 'Zippy' Duvallcomments from Listen To wma Georgia Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Association Exec Charles Hall (mp3) GFFVA's Charles Hallincluding an update about a referendum deadline coming up for GA Vegetable producers to vote on a new marketing order; Georgia Farm Bureau President Listen To wma Vincent ‘Zippy’ Duvall comments (mp3) on the water bill and other present concerns for Georgia agriculture; and GA Agriculture Commissioner Listen To wma Tommy Irvin also offers comments (mp3) for our listeners, speaking to us just before the GAC breakfast this morning. Also to see who’s in these photos, just place your cursor over each photo and the cut line will appear.

Propane for Poultry Houses

As the International Poultry Expo gets underway this week in Atlanta, the Propane Education and Research Council is turning up the heat on a hot product for poultry producers.

Find out more at agpropane.com.

Listen To MP3Report (1:30 mp3)

FEBRUARY 4TH IS THE DEADLINE - HAVE YOU RETURNED YOUR QUESTIONNAIRE YET?Click here to go to USDA/NASS website to learn more about the Agriculture Census

USDA Ag Census Provides Valuable Information

As a producer you should of received your Ag Census form in the mail, and you are urged to complete it and return it by the deadline.  Tyron Spearman tells us today just how important this census is. Listen To MP3 Report (:45 mp3)

This post sponsored by:

Hog & Broiler Outlook

Some wonder what hog and poultry prices will be like in 2008, so one economist looks at the numbers for both commodities. Listen To wma Report (1:00 mp3)

USDA Releases Disease Traceability Plan

Bruce KnightUSDA Under Secretary Bruce Knight has information about the recently released business plan for Advancing Animal Disease Traceability. Listen To wma Report (1:00 mp3)

To see this plan, click Here

Turkey is Not Only for Holidays

From Thanksgiving through Christmas many people think of turkey for their holiday meals, but turkey growers have been working to make sure it’s a meat people think of all year long. Listen To wma Report (1:00 mp3)

Nominations for Livestock Advisory Committee

Nominations are now open for appointments to a committee which helps with the prevention of foreign livestock and poultry diseases in the United States. Listen To mp3 Report (:25 mp3)        Nominations can be sent to this address:

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

U.S. Department of Agriculture

4700 River Road, Unit 41

Riverdale, Maryland 20737-1231

Meat Production & Price Forecast

New forecasts are out for meat production and prices, and while some numbers are down a bit from earlier projections, overall they still look good. Listen To mp3 Report (1:10 mp3)

Agriculture Census Coming Up Soon

It only happens once each five years and producers of any kind of agriculture products are required to be counted. We’re working with USDA’s National Agriculture Statistics Service in our region again to help get the word out about the Census of Agriculture, so stay tuned for lots of information and frequent reminders about it in the coming weeks. Agriculture Census questionnaires will be mailed the last week of this year and should be returned by the first week of February 2008. Prompt action by producers will save a lot of extra time and effort to chase down the forms not returned on time. Learn more from USDA’s special Census of Agriculture website.
This post sponsored by:Click here to go to USDA/NASS website to learn more about the Agriculture Census

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