nppc

NPPC Expresses Support for Farm Bill 2.0

The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) is welcoming movement on the Senate’s Farm Bill, saying the legislation brings agriculture one step closer to the certainty of a five-year Farm Bill reauthorization. Following action by the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, pork producers are now urging lawmakers to address one of the industry’s top priorities, preventing what they …

beef export

Beef Export Value Strong while Pork Exports below Year-Ago

U.S. beef exports delivered another strong month in July, according to data released by the USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation. Export volume held steady at just over 89,000 metric tons, while export value climbed 6% from a year ago to nearly $797 million. Strong demand from Taiwan, Mexico, Japan, the Middle East, Colombia, the Caribbean, and …

sterile flies

Strain of Sterile Flies Produced to Combat NWS

An update on the fight against New World Screwworm. Research entomologist Alex Arp describes the new NovoFly, a new strand of sterile flies. “We’ll mass produce a lot of screwworm flies, sterilize them with gamma radiation, and then release them over a large area. And continuously over time, this will kill off the population. Only the male flies are actually …

New World Screwworm

Additional New World Screwworm Infested Zones Released

Additional New World Screwworm-infested zones have been released in Texas. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service approved the releases of these zones after concurrence from Texas’ state veterinarian Dr. Bud Dinges and the Texas Animal Health Commission. Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Dudley Hoskins said, “The Texas Animal Health Commission has been an …

John W. Tyson poultry

John W. Tyson: From Missouri Farmer to Poultry Industry Pioneer

The Great Depression Creates an Opportunity The Great Depression brought severe economic hardship to rural American families, but for some entrepreneurs, difficult times also created opportunities. One such entrepreneur was a young Missouri farmer named John W. Tyson, who recognized a growing need for fresh poultry in larger Midwestern markets. Beginning in 1931, Tyson began delivering chickens from southern Missouri …

pork organizations

Pork Organizations Join Forces

Six state pork organizations here in the Southeast agree they can do better together. No state is going to replace Iowa as the number one state but doesn’t mean smaller producing states in the Southeast can’t join together to better serve members. State pork organizations, Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, and Florida have approved formation of the Southeast Pork Alliance. …

farmland fraud

Ag Law Expert Discusses Farmland Fraud

We recently had the opportunity to sit down with Roger McEowen, Professor of Agricultural Law and Taxation at Washburn University. Professor McEowen discussed the recent hot topic of farmland fraud. “My article on that stemmed from a conversation I had with a rancher this past spring, and he just, I didn’t know him, but a lot of people know me, …

ag law

Ag Law Expert to Speak in Alabama this Week

We recently had the opportunity to sit down with Roger McEowen, professor of agricultural law and taxation at Washburn University. Professor McEowen discussed his upcoming ag law talk. Here is what he had to say. “I’ll be in Guntersville, Alabama, Wednesday morning, the 19th of August, talking about residual soil fertility. This is a two-hour seminar for firms that do …

New World Screwworm

FDA Issues Emergency Use Authorization for Livestock Wound Spray

The FDA is giving farmers, ranchers, veterinarians, and wildlife managers another tool in the fight against New World Screwworm. The agency announced recently an Emergency Use Authorization for CLiK Extra wound spray, a product that can help prevent New World Screwworm infections in a wide range of animals. The authorization covers sheep, cattle, goats, swine, and animals including llamas, alpacas, …

chickens

Why Chickens Were the Backbone of Early American Farms

Chickens Were the First Livestock of the American Frontier When many people think about American agriculture in the 1800s, they often picture vast cattle ranches or large hog operations. However, during the mid-19th century, chickens were actually among the most valuable livestock on many pioneer farms. Their versatility, ease of care, and ability to provide a steady source of food …