The USDA recently raised its estimates of red meat and poultry production. The numbers in its newest WASDE report show production levels three billion pounds higher than the agency predicted after COVID-19 shut down meat plants in April and May. An article on agriculture.com says the meat outlook brightened for the second month in a row. “The beef production forecast …
Government Dietary Guidelines Reaffirm Beef’s Important Role in a Healthy Diet
WASHINGTON (July 15, 2020) – The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) today thanked the members of the 2020 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC) for recognizing beef’s role in a healthy lifestyle, including the essential role of beef’s nutrients at every life stage. The DGAC released recommendations to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human …
Dietary Guidelines Reaffirms Dairy’s Crucial Role, But Wider Science Review Needed
ARLINGTON, VA – The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) said it was pleased that the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee’s final report reaffirms dairy’s crucial role in a nutritious diet but expressed concern that the committee failed to recognize newer, broader science that shows the benefits of dairy foods at all fat levels.  “The Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC) today …
Vaccine Bank Part of FMD Preparedness Strategy
Last week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced the initial purchase of a vaccine for the National Animal Vaccine and Veterinary Countermeasures Bank (NAVVCB). APHIS will invest $27.1 million in foot-and-mouth disease vaccine, which the Agency would use in the event of an outbreak to protect animals and help stop spread of …
Alabama Cattlemen to Attend NCBA Summer Meeting
Cattle producers from across the country will be traveling soon to Colorado for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) summer business meeting. Alabama Cattlemen’s Association (ACA) Executive Director, Erin Beasley, says Alabama will be well represented at the annual event. The NCBA Summer Business Meeting will be held July 27-30 at the Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center in Aurora, …
Legislation Designed to Improve Price Transparency in Cattle Markets
Iowa Representatives Cindy Axne, Abby Finkenauer and Dave Loebsack introduced legislation in the House that would increase price transparency in U.S cattle markets. It would spur additional price discovery and competition for producers using cash markets. “We must increase price transparency and level the playing field for cattle producers,” says Axne. “We’ve seen significant market disruptions from the fire in …
Weekly Livestock Market Report Week Ending 07-10-2020
Here are the weekly livestock market reports for Alabama, Florida, and Georgia, for the week ended July 10, 2020, compiled by the Livestock Market News Service for all three states. AL Livestock Market Report: At Alabama Livestock Auctions receipts at 21 markets totaled an estimated 13,200 head compared to 0 last week and 12,753 year ago. Compared to one week …
Backlog of Cattle to Be Discussed at NCBA Summer Business Meeting
Back in mid-March as the nation was starting to really feel the effects of COVID-19, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) CEO Colin Woodall, said in a news release, “There is a great deal of uncertainty about the ongoing impact of Coronavirus on the beef industry and the United States as a whole. At this time, it’s impossible to measure the …
Don’t Leave Dairy Behind in Japan Negotiations
Fifty members of Congress sent a bipartisan letter to U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer this week, urging him to work swiftly on a Phase Two Agreement with Japan. The letter was also sent to Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue. They say the recent Phase One agreement with Japan made progress on several important issues, but American farmers and processors remain at …
May Margin Triggers Dairy Margin Coverage Program Payment
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) announced this week that the May 2020 income over feed cost margin was $5.37 per hundredweight (cwt.), triggering the third payment of 2020 for dairy producers who purchased the appropriate level of coverage under the Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program. To date, FSA has issued more than $176 million in program …