Fans Select Bama’s Best Pulled Pork Final Four

Clint Thompson Alabama, Pork

Written by Marlee Moore The Alabama Pork Producers smoked out four finalists in its Bama’s Best Pulled Pork contest — Heard’s BBQ in Maplesville in Chilton County, JJ’s BBQ in Elba in Coffee County, The Pink Pig in Moulton in Lawrence County and Holy Smoke BBQ in Hartselle in Morgan County. Alabama Farmers Federation Pork Division Director Russ Durrance said …

Weekly Livestock Market Report Week Ending 06-12-2020

Clint Thompson Alabama, Cattle, Florida, Georgia, Livestock

Here are the weekly livestock market reports for Alabama, Florida, and Georgia, for the week ended June 12, 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 11,200 head compared to 11,856 last week and 10,977 year ago. Compared to one week …

Tyson Foods Cooperating in U.S. Probe of Chicken Price Fixing

Clint Thompson Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Poultry

Tyson Foods, the top chicken producer in the U.S, is cooperating in a Justice Department price-fixing investigation. Tyson is doing so under a leniency program that will allow the company to avoid criminal prosecution in exchange for aiding in the continuing probe of other poultry producers. The Wall Street Journal says after receiving a grand-jury subpoena in April of last …

USDA Announces Livestock Risk Protection Program Improvements

Clint Thompson Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Livestock

The Department of Agriculture Tuesday announced changes to the Livestock Risk Protection insurance program for feeder cattle, fed cattle and swine starting this summer. USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) says changes include moving premium due dates to the end of the endorsement period and increasing premium subsidies to assist producers. RMA Administrator Martin Barbre says the changes will “make these …

Meatpacking Facilities Near Full Operation of ’19 Capacity

Clint Thompson Alabama, Cattle, Florida, Georgia, Livestock

The Department of Agriculture says U.S. meatpacking facilities are operating at more than 95% of average capacity when compared to 2019. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue applauded the data, attributing the operations to the safe reopening of the facilities. USDA says beef facilities are operating at 98%, pork facilities are operating at 95%, and poultry facilities are operating at 98% of …

USDA Announces Improvements to the Livestock Risk Protection Insurance Program This Summer

Clint Thompson Alabama, Cattle, Florida, Georgia, Livestock

WASHINGTON, June 9, 2020 –USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) announced changes to the Livestock Risk Protection (LRP) insurance program for feeder cattle, fed cattle and swine starting this summer with the 2021 crop year. Changes include moving premium due dates to the end of the endorsement period and increasing premium subsidies to assist producers.  “These changes will make these policies …

April Red Meat Exports Weather Production Challenges, Economic Headwinds

Taylor Hillman Beef, Livestock, Pork

April proved to be a solid month for U.S. beef and pork exports despite COVID-19 related interruptions in production and trade. U.S. Meat Export Federation President and CEO Dan Halstrom says, “despite these significant headwinds, global demand for U.S. beef and pork remained strong.” Beef exports were below last April’s large totals but still topped $600 million in value. Pork …

Weekly Livestock Market Report Week Ending 06-05-2020

Clint Thompson Alabama, Cattle, Florida, Georgia, Livestock

Here are the weekly livestock market reports for Alabama, Florida, and Georgia, for the week ended June 5, 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 11,900 head compared to 10,989 last week and 11,803 year ago. Compared to one week …

African Swine Fever Impact Even Greater in 2020

Clint Thompson Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Pork

Experts are saying that the African Swine Fever (ASF) outbreak that continued last year could have an even bigger impact in 2020. The Guardian says that the highly-contagious virus that is fatal to pigs is still spreading at a rapid rate. While human attention is on the COVID-19 outbreak, the concern is growing around the world that countries are not …