Covid-19 has impacted many agricultural and forestry operations across the country, but the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is offering financial assistance for farmers and ranchers and even timber harvesters and haulers. But USDA reminds those interested the signup deadlines are coming up next week. The signup deadline for three pandemic assistance programs are: · Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 2 – October 12 …
August Beef Exports Top $1 Billion
U.S. beef exports set another new value record in August, topping the $1 billion mark for the first time. Information released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) also notes pork exports saw another strong month in August, remaining ahead of the record pace set last year. Led by record shipments to …
FBC Pleased with Return of “Beef. It’s What’s for Dinner” 300
It was announced this week that the Federation of State Beef Councils, on behalf of the Beef Checkoff, will again sponsor a NASCAR race at the Daytona International Speedway. The “Beef. It’s What’s for Dinner 300” race will be held February 19, 2022. Florida Beef Council (FBC) Director of Beef Marketing and Promotion, DeAnne Maples, says they are thrilled. The 2022 Beef. It’s What’s …
New Report Indicates Government Interference in Beef & Cattle Markets has Unintended Consequences
In response to a bipartisan request from the House Agriculture Committee, Texas A&M University has completed a comprehensive report on the U.S. cattle and beef markets written by leading economists across the country. Among its key findings is that proposals increasing government intervention and mandates will cost livestock producers billions of dollars. “Thursday the House Agriculture Committee will hold the …
ERS Study Shows Meatpackers Role in COVID Spread
A study from USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS) shows the role meatpacking plants played in the spread of COVID-19. In what ERS describes as a working paper, the study outlined 49 U.S. non-metro counties in which 20 percent or more of employment is in meatpacking, defined as meatpacking-dependent counties. This represents 41 percent of all nonmetro counties with employment in …
USDA Initiative to Create More and Better Market Opportunities
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), as part of their efforts to address food systems challenges arising from the pandemic as well as those going back decades, has announced plans for another $100 million in funding from the American Rescue Plan Act. The funding would leverage hundreds of millions more in lending through community and private sector lenders to expand …
October Beef Month Underway in Alabama
October Beef Month in Alabama is underway, and the annual event involves a variety of Beef Checkoff promotions. One of those continues this week, as Burger Week is underway in Mobile and runs through October 9th. Then, according to Alabama Cattlemen’s Association (ACA) Director of Education and Outreach Ali Cantrell, next up will be Beef Week. Learn more about these and other …
Georgia Beef Board Chairman Proud of Checkoff
The Beef Checkoff has been around many years, and one Georgia cattle producer still strongly believes in the program. Robert Fountain Jr., from Adrian and Chairman of the Georgia Beef Board (GBB), recently told Southeast AgNet’s Randall Weiseman producers dollars invested into it have yielded tremendous returns to the industry. For more information, contact the GBB office in Macon or …
“Beef. It’s What’s for Dinner” 300 Returns to Daytona
The Federation of State Beef Councils, on behalf of the Beef Checkoff, has announced they will once again sponsor a NASCAR race at the Daytona International Speedway. The Federation will sponsor the 41st season-opening “Beef. It’s What’s for Dinner 300” race. The event will be held Saturday, February 19, one day before the Daytona 500. This is the second time the Beef …
Short-term Extension of Livestock Price Reporting Keeps Reform Issue Alive
A short-term extension for Mandatory Livestock Price Reporting approved by Congress as part of a temporary stop-gap bill to keep the government open, allows more time for possible market reforms. Lawmakers voted for the extension as the authorization for existing mandatory reporting of livestock prices was about to expire, and temporary funding was needed to avert an end-of-fiscal-year government shutdown. …