A new U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) blueprint, published today in Frontiers and Genetics, will serve as a guide for research and funding in animal genomics for 2018-2027 that will facilitate genomic solutions to enable producers to meet increasing future demands for animal products by a growing world population. The USDA’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS), the National Institute for Food and …
USDA Enhances African Swine Fever Surveillance Efforts
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is furthering its overall African Swine Fever (ASF) preparedness efforts with the implementation of a surveillance plan. As part of this plan, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) will work with the swine industry, the states, and veterinary diagnostic laboratories to test for ASF. ASF is a highly contagious and deadly disease …
Promising Outlook for Meat and Dairy Producers
USDA’s first forecasts for the 2020 marketing year reveals increases in both production and price for meat and dairy producers. Rod Bain reports. Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Producers Proactive In Research Efforts Funded by the Florida Cattle Enhancement BoardJanuary 16, 2026Florida Cattle Industry Supports Administration of Florida Cattle Enhancement BoardJanuary 9, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Provides Significant Support For ResearchDecember 19, …
USDA Seeking Feedback from Southeast Growers
Over the next few weeks, USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service will be seeking feedback from growers about 2019 crops, stocks, livestock inventories and values. NASS will be conducting two major mid-year surveys, the June Agricultural Survey and the June Area Survey. They will be contacting nearly 5700 producers across Alabama, Florida, Georgia and South Carolina in order to compile all of this information. …
Road to the World Livestock Auctioneer Championship
Tulare Sales Yard in Tulare, California will host the 56th annual World Livestock Auctioneer Championship (WLAC) June 7-8. The free event will take place in conjunction with the Livestock Marketing Association (LMA) Annual Convention. The WLAC competition will feature 31 contestants, and Rod Bain has a story explaining what those contestants have to go through to reach and compete in the annual event. Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Producers …
Second Hours-of-Service Bill Introduced in Congress
The Transporting Livestock Across America Safely Act was introduced in the Senate earlier this week. Now, House Ag Committee Chair Collin Peterson and Greg Pence of Indiana introduced H.R. Bill 2460, the Modernizing Agricultural Transportation Act. The legislation is a companion to a Senate Bill introduced last February and already drawing bipartisan supporters. It would require the Secretary of Transportation …
USDA APHIS Launches Interactive Map to Help Livestock Producers
The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) launched an interactive website that provides livestock producers with important information. The site contains web links for obtaining premises identification numbers (PIN) and location identifiers (LID) within livestock producers’ respective States. Federal PINs or state specific LIDs are unique codes permanently assigned to a physical location. …
How ASF affects U.S. Pork Trade with China
There are no vaccines yet for African Swine Fever (ASF), but scientists are working to develop one. Of course ASF continues to be a major issue in China, and USDA Undersecretary Greg Ibach says he sees a recent uptick in Chinese demand for U.S. pork for that reason. Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Producers Proactive In Research Efforts Funded by the Florida …
NCBA Welcomes Legislation Aimed to Help Livestock Haulers
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) welcomed the introduction of legislation in the U.S. Senate aimed at reforming federal Hours of Service (HOS) rules in a way that ensures animal welfare, highway safety, and the well-being of livestock haulers. S. 1255, the Transporting Livestock Across America Safely Act, was introduced by Senator Ben Sasse (R-NE) with a bipartisan group of …
Rubio Joins Sasse, Colleagues in Reintroducing Livestock Haulers Legislation
U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) joined Senator Ben Sasse (R-NE) in reintroducing the Transporting Livestock Across America Safely Act. Currently, overly strict trucking regulations from the Department of Transportation require mandatory rest time that put livestock at risk, especially during summer or winter months. This bipartisan legislation would give American agriculture the flexibility to safely transport livestock. “Florida’s livestock and …