Last week, the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) held its Strategic Planning Conference in New Orleans, where a range of topics impacting global demand for U.S. pork, beef and lamb were covered. USMEF Chair Dean Meyer, a livestock and grain producer from Rock Rapids, Iowa, welcomed attendees with a reminder of how the organization brings together diverse sectors of agriculture to work …
NCBA Opposes Beef Imports from Paraguay
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) opposes the USDA’s decision to allow Paraguayan beef imports starting next month. NCBA has repeatedly raised concerns with USDA over Paraguay’s history of foot-and-mouth disease and the outdated information used to justify Paraguay’s access to the U.S. market. NCBA is concerned that USDA’s failure to use information from recent site visits in the risk …
U.S. House Environmental Appropriations Bill Favorable for Livestock Producers
By Will Jordan The American Sheep Industry Association, Public Lands Council, and National Cattlemen’s Beef Association joined together to prevent government overreach that allowed the Bureau of Land Management to disallow statutorily approved public land uses. This is not only a win for producers with public land grazing leases but private landowners as well. NCBA’s Senior Director of Government Affairs, …
New Bison Initiative
A new initiative for the bison industry. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. A new pilot program is designed to widen access by tribal bison meat producers to a USDA food purchase program and local and regional food system markets. USDA Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Jenny Moffitt says the new pilot program will remove barriers …
AgNet Weekly: Senator Kevin Cramer on WOTUS, Farm Bill
Last month, the Senate committee on Environment and Public Works held a hearing on Examining the Implications of Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency for Clean Water Act Protections of Wetlands and Streams. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) is on that committee and was at the hearing, and in fact asked several questions of the witnesses. Host Sabrina Halvorson talked with Senator …
North Georgia Counties Designated as Primary Natural Disaster Areas Following Recent Drought
(GDAC/Atlanta, GA/Nov. 10, 2023) — United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack has issued a natural disaster declaration for 11 Georgia counties following a sustained period of drought, adding to the four Northwest Georgia Counties already declared primary natural disaster areas last week. Impacted counties include Bartow, Cherokee, Dawson, Fannin, Floyd, Gilmer, Gordon, Lumpkin, Murray, Pickens, and Whitfield, which have sustained eight …
New USDA Investment in Specialty Crop Research
USDA is investing $70.2 million in the Specialty Crop Research Initiative to support nearly two dozen research and Extension projects. USDA Deputy Secretary Xochitl Torres Small announced the funding on a call with reporters and described the kinds of projects that will be funded. “The awarded projects addressed key challenges of national, regional and multi state importance to the food …
Congress Unlikely to Pass a New Farm Bill this Year
We are hearing more and more that a new Farm Bill coming this yet is very unlikely. Some feel an extension is needed, and as Tyron Spearman reports, some have other ideas of what may or may not happen. Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Helps to Support Forage Development and Management PracticesMarch 6, 2026CIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsMarch 1, 2026Florida Cattle …
September Pork Exports Fairly Steady; Beef Exports Trend Lower
According to new data released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF), September exports of U.S. pork were down slightly from a year ago but did maintain a robust pace. On the other hand, beef exports continued to struggle compared to last year’s record totals but showed increasing strength in the Western Hemisphere markets. Pork exports totaled 221,140 metric …
Hoping for a Rebound in the Ag Trade
Many agricultural commodities saw a tough week this week. But as Mark Oppold reports, many traders are looking for a rebound. Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Helps to Support Forage Development and Management PracticesMarch 6, 2026CIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsMarch 1, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Offers Targeted Research for Florida Cattle IndustryFebruary 20, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Allows Viable Research in …