Meat and Poultry Worker COVID Infection Rates Lower Than General Population

A new analysis of independent data for November shows that reported new COVID-19 infection rates among meat and poultry workers were more than eight times lower than the general population. Data from the Food and Environment Reporting Network says the meat and poultry sector reported an average of 5.57 new cases per 10,000 workers daily in November. Infection rates among …

Taiwan Approves U.S. Pork Imports with Ractopamine

Taiwan’s parliament approved a measure that will allow U.S. pork imports containing ractopamine, a leanness-enhancing additive. Reuters says the approval came despite objections from KMT, the main opposition party, which says it creates a health risk for the Taiwanese people. The country’s president decided in August that Taiwan would allow imports of U.S. pork with the additive, which is banned …

NPPC: Anti-Meat Group Shows ‘True Colors’

Last week, the head of an anti-meat extremist group posed as the CEO of a major pork producer during a national television interview. The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) says the conversation contained “outrageous and false claims” about the U.S. pork industry and the challenges it faced during COVID-19. NPPC President Howard “A.V.” Roth (Rowth) had a sharp response to …

USDA Receives Delivery of First Significant FMD Vaccine Bank Purchase

Earlier this year, the Department of Agriculture announced the first significant purchase for its Foot-and-Mouth vaccine bank. This month, the purchase worth $27 million was delivered. The establishment of a robust FMD vaccine bank has been a top, long-term priority for the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC), which was instrumental in advocating for its establishment as part of the 2018 …

Commissioner Fried Grants Santa Claus & Reindeer Animal Movement Permit

(FDACS) — Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ (FDACS) are issuing a Certificate of Animal Movement to Mr. and Mrs. Claus of the North Pole. The certificate will allow their reindeer – Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen, and Rudolph – to enter and exit all homes, domiciles, encampments, and premises in the state of …

Secretary Perdue Announces Groundbreaking Proposal

Transfer Agricultural Animal Biotechnology Regulatory Framework to USDA (USDA) — U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced a significant step in modernizing regulations of agricultural animals modified or produced by genetic engineering. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will be moving forward with an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPR) to solicit public input and feedback on a contemplated regulatory framework that …

Winding Down ’20 Livestock Production, Price Estimates

USDA recently updated its livestock production and price estimates for the current calendar year. Rod Bain has the details.  Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsJuly 1, 2026FL Cattle Enhancement Board Wraps up Funding YearJune 30, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Awarded Researcher Discusses New World Screwworm OverviewJune 19, 2026Verdant Robotics Offers Growers Targeted Application of Herbicides or Beneficials through SharpShooter™June 16, 2026

Livestock Marketing Association Applauds Congress

WASHINGTON, D.C. (December 22, 2020) – The Livestock Marketing Association (LMA) applauds Congress for passing Dealer Statutory Trust in the COVID relief package.  A Dealer Statutory Trust will provide sellers of livestock much needed payment protection during dealer payment defaults.     “LMA is grateful for the tremendous leadership of Congress to correct a fundamental unfairness in the current law where livestock sellers often cannot get livestock back when …

Meat, Poultry, Farm Workers High Priority for Vaccine

Federal guidance suggests essential workers should be next to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, including meat packers and farm workers. A Centers for Disease Control advisory committee voted in favor of a blueprint for essential workers and people older than 75 as recipients of the vaccine in the next phase. In a news release, North American Meat Institute President and CEO …