The $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package, known as “The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021” is now official as President Biden signed the bill late last week. We’ve all heard how the package will include $1,400 stimulus checks for qualifying individuals, extends unemployment benefits, and more. But it also increases assistance through USDA’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). And according …
January U.S. Red Meat Exports Below Year-Ago Levels
According to information released Monday by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), in January 2021 U.S. beef and pork exports opened the year below the large volumes posted in 2020. The data, compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF), shows beef exports totaled 105,047 metric tons (mt) in January, down 2% from a year ago, while value slipped 3% …
Beef Trade Update from NCBA
While 2020 was not the year many had hoped, when it came to exports of U.S. beef, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) Senior Director of International Trade and Market Access, Kent Bacus, says U.S. beef producers fared much better than a lot of their competitors. Bacus looks at the trade deals that took place last year and where they currently stand for …
USMEF’s Halstrom to Speak at ACA Convention
The 2021 Alabama Cattlemen’s Association Convention kicks off in Birmingham, and one of the guest speakers for the event is U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) President and CEO, Dan Halstrom. In a pre-convention interview, he told Southeast AgNet’s Randall Weiseman that despite Covid-19, overall demand and consumption for U.S. beef globally in 2020 was resilient. The ACA Convention runs through Saturday. More information can …
Optimism in Beef Industry Fueled by Strong Demand
Despite pandemic disruptions, consumer demand for beef at home and around the globe remained strong in 2020. CattleFax says that trend will continue in 2021 and beyond, especially as foodservice operations begin to fully reopen. The data, presented during last week’s Cattle Industry Convention Winter Reboot, indicated strong demand and expected higher cattle prices; all signaling an optimistic future for …
Florida Beef Council Focusing on Introducing Beef to Youngsters
The latest Dietary Guidelines for Americans addressed the introduction of solid foods to infants and toddlers. The Florida Beef Council (FBC) is promoting that beef is included in this information, and they are working to help families establish good eating habits. FBC Director of Education & Promotion DeAnne Maples says they are focusing on providing information to parents on how …
Georgia Beef Board Promoting Beef for the Early Years
The American Academy of Pediatrics, the Women Infants and Children’s Program (WIC) and the Dietary Guidelines for Americans are recommending the introduction of solid foods, like beef, to infants and toddlers. Georgia Beef Board (GBB) Director of Public Relations Taylor Evans says every bite counts, especially in that first 1,000 days of life. For more information about feeding beef to …
Recertify for BQA Online
We told you a couple of weeks ago that the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) had announced new updates and initiatives to their Beef Checkoff-funded Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) program for 2021. This also includes updates to their educational training modules. Over the past few years, many cattle producers have taken advantage of BQA training sessions, some on-line, some through in-person training. …
AFBF President Testifies Before House Agriculture Committee
American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) President Zippy Duvall provided testimony before the U.S. House Committee on Agriculture Climate Change and the U.S. Agriculture and Forestry Sectors. Here is his written testimony: Mr. Chairman and members of the Committee, my name is Zippy Duvall. I am a third-generation farmer and president of the American Farm Bureau Federation, and I am pleased to offer this …
Native Legume for Improving Pastures in the Southern U.S.
Legumes are plants within the bean family capable of fixing nitrogen. Legumes can enhance conservation tillage systems, improve soil quality, reduce nitrogen requirements on row crops and pasture lands, enhance wildlife habitat, enhance pasture and hay land quality, and reduce soil erosion in cropland and critical areas. Warm and cool-season legume species produce high-quality forage and seed throughout the year …