The Department of Agriculture says at least 18 outbreaks of Virulent Newcastle Disease have been confirmed in backyard chickens in Southern California. The outbreaks prompted the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service to issue a warning to commercial poultry operations. The infected backyard chickens were found in Los Angeles and San Bernardino in May and June. In the USDA statement, …
NPPC Testifies at USTR Hearing on Thailand’s GSP Eligibility
At a U.S. Trade Representative hearing, the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) called for Thailand’s preferential access to the U.S. market to be revoked or reduced if it does not end its unwarranted ban on U.S. pork. Thailand is a top beneficiary of the U.S. Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program, which gives duty-free treatment to certain goods entering the …
USMEF Holding Latin American Product Showcase Next Week
The U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) will hold its 2018 Latin American Product Showcase next week. Now in its eighth year, this highly successful event brings U.S. red meat exporters together with key buyers from throughout Central America, South America and the Caribbean. Joe Schuele has the details. USMEF Holding Latin American Product Showcase Next Week Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Producers …
Senate Bill Creates Group to Study Trucking Regulations
Legislation introduced last week in the U.S. Senate would revise existing trucking regulations to make the rules more flexible for drivers hauling livestock, according to the National Pork Producers Council. The “Modernizing Agricultural Transportation Act” would establish a working group at the Department of Transportation to examine the federal Hours of Service rules and the Electronic Logging Device regulations. The …
Celebrating National Turkey Lovers Month
Gobble, gobble, gobble. No, it isn’t Thanksgiving…yet. Cathy Isom does have some delicious facts about why you don’t have to five months to celebrate a famous holiday meal. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Celebrating National Turkey Lovers Month This may surprise you, but June is National Turkey Lovers’ Month! You might think this would be designated for …
Defending Market Share of U.S. Pork in Mexico
In response to U.S. duties on imports of steel and aluminum, Mexico has imposed a 10 percent retaliatory duty on all chilled and frozen pork cuts imported from the U.S, as well as a 15 percent duty on sausages and a 20 percent duty on some prepared hams. With more on that story, here is U.S. Meat Export Federation’s Joe Schuele. Defending …
Mexico Turning to EU and Others to Replace U.S. Pork Imports
Mexico is turning to the European Union and Latin America to offset any potential declines in U.S. pork imports. Mexico recently announced a 20 percent tariff on U.S. pork shoulders and legs starting next month in response to steel and aluminum tariffs placed on Mexico by the Trump administration. Mexican officials told Politico the nation will allow 350,000 tons of …
Livestock Groups Happy with FMD Funding in Farm Bill
The Senate farm bill released last week includes language establishing a vaccine bank to deal with an outbreak of Foot-and-Mouth Disease, a priority for livestock groups. The House version of the bill includes FMD language, as well. National Pork Producers Council President Jim Heimerl called the language “encouraging,” adding that: “With a vaccine bank, we’ll finally be able to adequately …
CDC Investigating Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Backyard Poultry
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is investigating several multistate outbreaks of Salmonella infections linked to contact with live poultry in backyard flocks. As of June 1, 2018, 124 people infected with the outbreak strains of Salmonella have been reported from 36 states. Several different types of Salmonella bacteria have made people sick, according to the CDC’s investigation. 21 …
APHIS Wildlife Services Conducts First Field Trial of Feral Swine Toxic Bait
Plans Modifications to Mitigate Hazards to Non-Target Species USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) recently conducted the first of two field trials of a sodium nitrite toxic bait on free-roaming feral swine. Feral swine are an invasive species causing extensive and costly damage and disease threats to crops, property, native ecosystems, livestock health, and human health. Feral swine …