Beef Safeguard Changes Critical in Highly Competitive Japanese Market

Last week, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative and the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced changes to the safeguard on Japan’s imports of U.S. beef. U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) President and CEO Dan Halstrom notes how this will help keep U.S. beef on a level tariff playing field with its major competitors. Halstrom adds that competition in Japan will further intensify later this …

USDA Publishes Origin of Livestock Final Rule for Organic Dairy

(Release No. 0069.22/USDA/AMS/WASHINGTON, Mar. 29, 2022) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture published the highly anticipated Origin of Livestock (OOL) final rule for organic dairy. This change to the USDA organic regulations will promote a fairer and more competitive market for all organic dairy producers, by making sure that certified USDA organic dairy products are produced to the same consistent standard. “This …

Georgia Beef Board Preparing for Milledgeville Burger Week

The Georgia Beef Board (GBB) has been involved with various burger week promotions over the past few years, but they are now preparing for a brand new event. GBB Director of Public Relations, Taylor Evans, says in April they will be taking part in the Milledgeville Burger Week. For more information about this and other Beef Checkoff promotions, contact the GBB office in …

BQA Training Event Held in Madison County

The Beef Checkoff in Florida continues to promote Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) across the state. And two weeks ago, a big event was held in Madison County to work with producers there in becoming BQA certified. Josh Churchwell with the Madison County Cattlemen told us it was a hands on type training. The BQA training event, put together by the Madison County …

Alabama Cattlemen’s Foundation to Present Scholarships

Every year the Alabama Cattlemen’s Foundation (ACF) awards scholarship money to Alabama youth. And according to Alabama Cattlemen’s Association (ACA) Executive Vice President, Erin Beasley, more recipients will be awarded this week. The Alabama Cattlemen’s Foundation operates as a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation which serves to engage in educational and scientific activities to improve the beef cattle industry in the state and educate youth …

U.S. Cattle on Feed Up 1 Percent

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released their March Cattle on Feed Report, which shows the number of cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in the U.S. on March 1st for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 12.2 million head. The inventory was 1 percent above March 1, 2021, making it the highest March 1 inventory …

Programs Announced by USDA to Increase and Expand Meat and Poultry Processing Capacity

Technical Assistance Now Available to Processors; $23.6 Million Available for Meat, Poultry Readiness Grant program (USDA/WASHINGTON, March 25, 2022) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the launch of the Meat and Poultry Processing Capacity Technical Assistance Program (MPPTA) to provide technical assistance to meat and poultry grant applicants and grant-funded projects. Processors and applicants involved with the Meat and …

NCBA Welcomes Announcement on Japan-U.S. Trade Agreement

Thursday, U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai and Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the U.S. and Japan had reached an agreement that will help keep more American beef flowing into Japan. And this is news that pleases the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA). As part of the terms of the Japan–U.S. Trade Agreement, both countries entered consultations after the volume-based safeguard was triggered in …

U.S. and Japan Agree to Increase Beef Safeguard Trigger Level

U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack announced that the United States and Japan have reached an agreement to increase the beef safeguard trigger level under the U.S.-Japan Trade Agreement. The new three-trigger safeguard mechanism will allow U.S. exporters to meet Japan’s growing demand for high-quality beef and reduce the probability that Japan will impose higher …