We told you last week that for the month of June, both U.S. beef and pork export values shattered previous records that were set back in May. Joe Schuele, with the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF), has details on how strong variety meat demand helped drive the record month. A detailed summary of red meat export results is available on …
Meat Institute Opposes Government Intervention in Meat Market
The North American Meat Institute (NAMI) opposed recent action to make changes to the Packers and Stockyards Act. In a statement, the organization says, President Biden’s executive order calling for the Department of Agriculture to change the Packers and Stockyards rules will have unintended consequences for consumers and producers. Meat Institute President and CEO Julie Anna Potts states, “Government intervention …
Deadline Nearing to Apply for ADAI Relief Program
Back in April, the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries (ADAI) announced they were administering the Alabama Agriculture Relief Program (AARP) to provide USDA relief funds to farmers who suffered losses due to Hurricane Michael in 2018. While the original deadline to apply was June 25th, they want to remind those who experienced necessary expenses related to losses of beef …
USDA Supporting Expanded Meat Processing Capabilities
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced intentions to make significant investments to expand processing capacity and increase competition in meat and poultry processing to make agricultural markets more accessible, fair, competitive, and resilient for American farmers and ranchers. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says USDA will be investing $500 million in American Rescue Plan funds to expand meat and poultry processing …
Revitalizing the Packers and Stockyards Act
On Friday, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that USDA will soon propose rulemaking designed to improve fairness and transparency within the Packers and Stockyards Act. Rod Bain has the story. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack discusses the proposed rulemaking, such as specific practices with chicken processors and clarifying the definition of an unfair practice. Sponsored ContentWhat Sets Provysol® Fungicide ApartJuly 8, …
Livestock Market Report Week Ending 7-9-2021
Here are the weekly livestock market reports for Alabama (for the week ended July 2, 2021), Florida and Georgia (for the week ended July 9, 2021), compiled by the Livestock Market News Service for all three states. AL Livestock Market Report: At Alabama Livestock Auctions for the week ended July 2, 2021, receipts at 21 markets totaled an estimated 14,000 …
Lawmakers Seek Reimbursement for Dairy Farmers
A group of lawmakers calls on the Biden administration to reimburse dairy producers for losses stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic and market-related losses. In a letter to President Joe Biden, the 24 lawmakers say, “We strongly urge you to ensure our producers are reimbursed for as much of the roughly $725 million in foregone Class I skim milk revenue as …
Senators Weigh in on Cattle Market Concentration
More capacity, not more regulation may be the direction ag lawmakers take in dealing with cattle market concentration and wildly divergent cattle and beef prices. Senate Ag Committee Chair Debbie Stabenow says dramatic differences of opinion were expected during the recent hearing on the cause of high beef prices for major packers and low prices to small producers. But is …
Producers Can Now Hay, Graze and Chop Cover Crops Anytime
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that producers with crop insurance can hay, graze or chop cover crops for silage, haylage or baleage at any time of the year and still receive 100% of the prevented planting payment. Previously, cover crops could only be hayed, grazed or chopped after November 1, otherwise the prevented planting payment was reduced by …
NIFA Invests $14 Million in Animal Health and Disease Research
The Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) announced an investment of $14 million in research to protect agricultural animals from disease. The grants are part of NIFA’s Agriculture and Food Research Initiative’s Diseases of Agricultural Animals program area priority. NIFA director Carrie Castille says, “This research will help better understand, diagnose, control and prevent diseases in …