Agriculture Department and Justice Department Issue Shared Principles and Commitments to Protect Against Unfair and Anticompetitive Practices

(WASHINGTON, Jan. 3, 2022) — Speaking at a White House event focused on competition in agriculture, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and Attorney General Merrick B. Garland expressed their shared commitment to effectively enforcing federal competition laws that protect farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural producers and growers from unfair and anticompetitive practices, including the antitrust laws and the Packers and Stockyards …

USMEF on Importance of Amending Japan’s Beef Safeguard

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) recently reported on the status of its consultations with Japan aimed at adjusting Japan’s safeguard trigger levels for imports of U.S. beef. U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) President and CEO Dan Halstrom expressed appreciation for USTR’s prioritization of this issue and explains the urgency of amending the safeguard threshold. In 2021, Japan’s imports of U.S. beef exceeded …

Signup Continues for 2022 Dairy Margin Coverage Program

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) wants to remind producers that signup for the Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program continues until Feb. 18, 2022. DMC enables producers to get coverage through this important safety-net program for another year as well as get additional assistance through the new Supplemental DMC. Supplemental DMC will provide $580 million to better help small- and …

Beef Promotions through the Federation of State Beef Councils

The Federation of State Beef Councils represents a wide range of industry organizations and every segment of the beef industry. Chairman of the Federation, Clay Burtrum, told AgNet Media they partner with the Cattlemen’s Beef Board. And another big promotion for the Federation is the “Beef It’s What’s For Dinner 300” coming in February at the Daytona International Speedway. Burtrum says this will …

Registration Opens Next Week for ACA Convention

Many events are on the calendar for 2022, and that includes the annual Alabama Cattlemen’s Association (ACA) Convention and Trade Show. ACA Executive Vice President, Erin Beasley, says the event will be held in March in Mobile. The Alabama Cattlemen’s Association Convention and Trade Show will take place March 4-5 in Mobile. Convention registration opens next week, and more about …

No Major Surprises in Latest USDA Cattle on Feed Report

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) has released their December Cattle on Feed Report, which shows the number of cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in the U.S. for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 head or more was 12.0 million head on December 1st. According to a story from Gary Crawford, that is slightly …

A Cowboy’s Christmas Prayer

As we celebrate Christmas this year, Southeast AgNet’s Randall Weiseman brings back an old favorite, “A Cowboy’s Christmas Prayer” written by S. Omar Barker. A COWBOY’S CHRISTMAS PRAYERby S. Omar Barker (1895-1985) I ain’t much good at prayin’,and You may not know me, Lord —For I ain’t much seen in churches,where they preach Thy Holy Word.But you may have observed …

Meat Production and Price Forecasts for This Year and Next

USDA recently issued its December look at meat production and prices, with adjustments for both 2021 and 2022. Rod Bain reports. Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Provides Critical Funding To Enhance Brahman GeneticsApril 24, 2026Strong Relationship Exists Between the Florida Cattle Enhancement Board and UF-IFASApril 17, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Provides Funding For Quicker Response to Research QuestionsApril 10, 2026Florida …

New H-2A Labor Wages Effective Dec. 29

A recent issue of the Florida Citrus Mutual Triangle newsletter provided information about the wage that growers must pay H-2A labor, effective Dec. 29. H-2A workers are foreign agricultural workers who are allowed to work in the United States temporarily. In recent years, the vast majority of Florida citrus has been harvested by H-2A workers. The Employment and Training Administration …