Insight into USDA Feeder Calf Grading Standards

Understanding USDA’s guidance for grading feedlot-bound beef cattle can assist producers in getting a better price for their animals at sale. Rod Bain reports. Insight into USDA Feeder Calf Grading Standards Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Encourages Research into Producers QuestionsJune 5, 2026Cattle Producers Proud of Efforts Funded Through the Florida Cattle Enhancement BoardMay 29, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Funding …

USDA Food Safety Official: Consumer Reports Article not Accurate

A USDA food safety official says this week’s Consumer Reports article critical of USDA meat and poultry residue testing procedures is not accurate. Gary Crawford has the story. USDA Food Safety Official – Consumer Reports Article not Accurate-1 Carmen Rottenberg, Administrator of USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service, in reaction to this week’s Consumer Reports article, says USDA does extensive …

Beef and Pork Export Values Expected to Soften in 2019

The tit-for-tat trade war with China means a lower forecast for the value of U.S. beef and pork exports next year. The Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service said in its latest quarterly Situation and Outlook Report released this week that forecasts total exports of beef, pork, dairy, poultry and other livestock products combined are expected to decline $300 million …

Tough Surveillance Helps Catch BSE in Florida

It was announced Wednesday that the U.S. Department of Agriculture confirmed a case of atypical bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in Florida. The case was found in a 6-year-old, mixed-breed beef cow. According to a story from Stephanie Ho, U.S. surveillance systems help with speedy and effective detection of animal diseases like BSE.   Tough Surveillance Helps Catch BSE in Florida …

Canada Ready to Make Concession on Dairy Trade

Despite posturing by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that Canada ‘won’t back down’ on dairy issues, Canada is ready to make concessions. Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland rejoined the discussion in Washington this week. The Globe and Mail reports Canada is ready to make concessions to the Trump administration on Canada’s protected dairy market in a bid to save a …

R-CALF Looking for COOL in NAFTA

R-CALF is hopeful the details of the U.S.-Mexico announcement as part of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) negotiations will include country-of-origin meat labeling. R-CALF, a long-time supporter of COOL, in a statement by its CEO said: “We hope that a further release of details will show that COOL will be required for Mexican beef and beef from Mexican …

Atypical Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy Confirmed in Florida

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) announced that it is working closely with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) regarding an atypical case of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), a neurologic disease of cattle, in a six-year-old, mixed-breed beef cow in Florida. This animal never entered slaughter channels and at no time presented a risk to the food supply, …