Pilot Program Gives Canada Beef and Pork Exports Expanded Access to China

A pilot program is allowing exporters of Canadian beef and pork expanded access to China. The bilateral pilot project announced Monday will expand access to China for Canadian chilled beef and pork, and commit China and Canada to “fully implementing” an agreement reached last year to expand market access for Canadian frozen bone-in beef, according to AgCanada. Canadian beef exports …

Regional Cattle Adaptability

Innovative science and genomic technology is driving progress when it comes to regional adaptation of beef cattle. Jared Decker with the University of Missouri is involved in a comprehensive study, funded by a USDA grant, that seeks to improve regional adaptability of cattle. Adaptability Ultimately, Decker hopes to give producers the genomic tools to match cattle genetics with a specific …

Dairy Producers Have Until Friday to Enroll for 2018 Coverage

USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) wants to remind dairy producers that this Friday is the deadline to enroll for 2018 coverage in the Margin Protection Program (MPP-Dairy). The voluntary program provides financial assistance to participating dairy producers when the margin, or the difference between the price of milk and feed costs, falls below the coverage level selected by the producer. MPP-Dairy …

Antibiotic Use in Livestock Drops

The Food and Drug Administration began keeping records on antibiotic use in livestock animals in 2009. For the first time since then, the agency says antibiotic usage dropped. Sales of medically important antimicrobials for livestock and poultry fell by ten percent in 2016. The decline actually took place ahead of new antibiotic usage requirements that became law in January. As …

Weekly Livestock Market Report

Here are the weekly livestock market reports for Alabama, Florida, and Georgia, for the week ended December 8, 2017, compiled by the Livestock Market News Service for all three states.   AL Livestock Market Report: 12-09-17 AL Livestock Market Report At Alabama Livestock Auctions for the Week ended-December 08, 2017, receipts at 21 markets totaled an estimated 17,200 head compared …

USDA to Revisit Standard for Beef Carcass Grades

The Department of Agriculture announced it will revisit the United States Standards for Grades of Carcass Beef, a move drawing praise from the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. NCBA President Craig Uden says the updates to the beef standards will improve accuracy by basing carcass quality grades on the most current scientific data available. Following a petition led by NCBA, USDA’s …

LMA President Discusses SALE Act

The Livestock Marketing Association (LMA) is applauding the introduction of the Securing All Livestock Equitably (SALE) Act, H.R. 4058, by Congressman Roger Marshall of Kansas. LMA President, Jerry Etheridge from Montgomery, Alabama, says the SALE Act would help provide sellers of livestock with payment protection during dealer payment defaults. LMA President Discusses SALE Act Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Encourages …

EPA Given More Time to Implement Manure Air Emissions Reporting

A federal court is giving the EPA more time to implement a controversial manure air emissions reporting requirement that has the livestock industry crying ‘foul.’ The National Pork Producers Association backed the EPA in the agency’s request to the US Court of Appeals for DC last month for more time to comply with the court’s air emissions reporting order. NPPC’s …

New Dairy Support Program Awaits USDA Approval

Times have been tough in the American dairy industry. Overproduction has led to a lot of supply, which has pushed down beyond the break-even point. There have been some dairy support programs, including the most recent Margin Protection Program. However, the program is flawed, with farmers and farm-state legislators calling for changes. Marin Bozic, Assistant Professor with the University of …