Last week, the USDA Risk Management Agency (RMA) announced updates to the Livestock Gross Margin (LGM) and Dairy Revenue Protection (DRP) policies. RMA Acting Administrator Richard Flournoy first runs through the updates scheduled to take effect next year for the LGM program. And Flournoy describes the updates to RMA’s Dairy Revenue Protection program. RMA is updating the livestock insurance policies to improve options …
70th UF/IFAS Florida Beef Cattle Short Course Starts Tuesday
The 70th Annual University of Florida/IFAS Beef Cattle Short Course kicks of Tuesday, May 4. This year’s event will be a scaled down virtual event that runs three evenings from 6:00 8:00 pm Eastern via Zoom. The program this year will focus on efficiency and its importance to the beef industry, and each night will consist of two speakers. Dr. Todd …
University of Florida Students Learn about Preparing Beef
During a special class, some University of Florida students recently had a chance to learn more about beef cuts and dishes. Florida Beef Council (FBC) Director of Education & Promotion, DeAnne Maples, says they also had a chance to grill a steak. For more information about Beef Checkoff activities in the state, contact the FBC office in Kissimmee or go to their …
Alabama Youth Attend Beef Cook-off Event
A fun cook-off event took place this past Saturday, as the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association (ACA) hosted the Junior and Senior High School Beef Cook-off. ACA Director of Education and Outreach, Ali Cantrell, says the event also included some educational programs. To learn more about Beef Checkoff funded events in Alabama, contact the ACA office in Montgomery or go to their website, bamabeef.org. Sponsored …
Discussing Ideas for Possible Beef Checkoff Promotions in Georgia
When it comes to beef promotions, the Georgia Beef Board (GBB) does various things each year to get information out to consumers in the state. And some of those ideas comes from information they receive via other states across the nation. GBB Director of Public Relations, Taylor Evans, is attending meetings this week in Denver that she calls a great brain-storming …
Two Big Burger Events Coming Up in Georgia
May will be Beef Month in Georgia, and the Georgia Beef Board (GBB) continues its efforts to prepare for all that will take place during that month. According to GBB Director of Public Relations Taylor Evans, a burger contest will be one of those events. But before that takes place, another big burger event will be held next week. Click …
USDA Grant Program Needed for Local Meat Processors
The Center for Rural Affairs (CFRA) recently submitted a letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) urging them to open applications for a grant program to help local meat processors. The legislation, authorized by Congress in December, set funding aside to improve capacity at local meat lockers, but CFRA says the agency has been slow to respond. In a letter to the USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service, …
February Red Meat Exports Below Last Year, But Outlook Remains Strong
The February red meat export numbers have been released, and according to the new data, exports of U.S. beef and pork remained below the rapid pace established in 2020. The numbers, released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF), indicates exports were consistent with projections and USMEF still expects 2021 beef exports …
NCBA Welcomes Preserving Family Farms Act
House lawmakers recently introduced the Preserving Family Farms Act of 2021, a priority for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. NCBA has long supported efforts to reduce tax burdens on farmers and ranchers. This bipartisan legislation to expand IRS Code Section 2032A would allow cattle producers to take advantage of the Special Use Valuation and protect family-owned businesses from the impact …
Checkoff Dollars Important to USMEF Overseas Programs
The Beef and Pork Checkoff programs are national marketing and research programs designed to increase the demand for beef and pork products not only here in the U.S., but also abroad. One of the contractors to each of the checkoff programs is the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF). And USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom recently told Southeast AgNet those dollars …