Japan Beef Tariff Increase Highlights Need for Trade Agreement

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association says the increased tariff on beef imports to Japan underscores the “urgent need” for a bilateral trade agreement between Japan and the United States. Japan announced it would increase the tariff on frozen beef imports from 38.5 percent to 50 percent until April 2018. NCBA President Craig Uden says the tariffs “unfairly distort the market …

Secretary Perdue Regarding Japan’s Planned Increase of Tariff on U.S. Frozen Beef

The government of Japan has announced that rising imports of frozen beef in the first quarter of the Japanese fiscal year (April-June) have triggered a safeguard, resulting in an automatic increase in Japan’s tariff rate under the WTO on imports of frozen beef from the United States.  The increase, from 38.5 percent to 50 percent, will begin August 1, 2017, …

Weekly Livestock Market Report

Here are the Alabama and Georgia livestock market reports for the week ending July 28th, compiled by the Livestock Market News Service for both states.   AL Livestock Market Report: At Alabama Livestock Auctions for the week ended July 28, 2017, receipts at 21 markets totaled an estimated 16,300 head compared to 12, 434 last week and 11,396 a year …

Drought Funding for Alabama Livestock Producers

Alabama livestock producers are being reminded that today, Friday, July 28th is the deadline to apply for drought funding. For those impacted by last year’s extreme drought, USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Alabama will be providing dollars to eligible landowners through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). These dollars can be used to address fencing, water troughs, pasture, …

Tax Reform Crucial for America’s Farmers, Ranchers

Congressional leaders and administration officials have released a statement on tax reform that addresses many issues of importance to America’s farm and ranch families. The following statement about that action may be attributed to Zippy Duvall, President, American Farm Bureau Federation: “America’s farmers and ranchers are encouraged to see that key congressional leaders and the administration understand how important tax …

Japan to Increase Tariff on U.S. Frozen Beef

It has been announced by the government of Japan that rising imports of frozen beef in the first quarter of the Japanese fiscal year (April-June) have triggered a safeguard, resulting in an automatic increase in Japan’s tariff rate under the WTO on imports of frozen beef from the United States. The increase, from 38.5 percent to 50 percent, will begin August …

Deadline for Florida Heifer Development Program is Tuesday

Cattlemen across the Southeast are being reminded that Tuesday, August 1st is the deadline for the nomination of heifers in the 2017-2018 Florida Heifer Development Program. Last year the program developed 79 head of commercial and purebred heifers for producers from Georgia, Alabama, and Florida. All heifers in the program will be housed at the North Florida Research and Education …

China Sets Ban on Australian Beef imports

China has imposed a temporary beef ban on the products from six Australian processors. A Meating Place Dot Com report says the concern is regarding label non-compliance. Australian government officials have confirmed the ban is in place, vowing to work closely with the country’s beef industry and Chinese officials to get the ban resolved. The dispute doesn’t involve food safety …

Funding for Research to Improve Livestock and Aquaculture

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) announced 40 grants totaling more than $15.7 million for agricultural research on the production of beef, dairy, poultry, pork, and fish that people consume every day. The funding is made possible through NIFA’s Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI), authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill. “To ensure …

Ag Industry Provides Testimony on NAFTA

Dairy, poultry, grains, oilseeds and produce industry leaders told House Ag lawmakers this week that NAFTA modernization talks with Canada and Mexico should “do no harm” to their sectors, but only improve trade opportunities. ‘Preserve what’s working…strengthen what can be better…and fix what’s broken’ was the message from former USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack, now president and CEO of the US …