Group Calls For Passage of TLAAS Act Before Oct. 1 ELD Deadline The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association applauded the introduction of the Transporting Livestock Across America Safely (TLAAS) Act, saying it would reform federal Hours of Service (HOS) rules in a way that ensures animal welfare, highway safety, and the well-being of livestock haulers. The bill was introduced today by …
House Members Want Thailand Ban of U.S. Pork Ended
Members of the House of Representatives sent a letter to Taiwan’s Ambassador to the U.S. asking for the removal of import restrictions on American agricultural products, including pork. The bipartisan letter was signed by 44 House members and sponsored by Republican David Young of Iowa and Wisconsin Democrat Ron Kind. The letter calls for the U.S. to suspend trade benefits …
Agri View: Trade War and Red Meat Exports
Everett Griner talks about the trade war and red meat exports in today’s Agri View. Everett goes on to explain what the impact this will have on the farmer and on the consumer. Trade War and Red Meat Exports Here is why farmers and all of agriculture are so concerned about a trade war. Looking at export figures up to …
House Members Call for End to Thailand’s Ban on U.S. Pork
Members of the U.S. House of Representatives sent a letter to Virachai Plasai, ambassador of the Kingdom of Thailand to the United States, calling for the removal of restrictions on imports of U.S. farm products, including U.S. pork. The bipartisan letter – signed by 44 members and sponsored by Representatives David Young, R-IA, and Ron Kind, D-WI – calls for the …
Agri View: Cage Free Eggs on the Way
Everett Griner talks about cage free eggs in today’s Agri View. Everett explores, and has questions about, the difference between eggs from a cage hen and a hen on the ground. Cage Free Eggs on the Way Do you care if the eggs you had for breakfast came from a hen in a cage or one on the ground? Does …
NPPC: Oppose Brat-Blumenauer Farm Bill Rider
The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) is urging House lawmakers to oppose an amendment to the 2018 Farm Bill that would gut the federally authorized commodity research and promotion programs, commonly known as checkoffs. NPPC joined more than 40 agricultural organizations on a letter sent to House Agriculture Committee Chairman Michael Conaway, R-Texas, and Ranking Member Collin Peterson, D-Minn., asking …
USTR To Review Thailand’s GSP Trade Benefits
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has agreed with a request from the National Pork Producers Council to review Thailand’s eligibility for the U.S. Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program because of that country’s failure to provide access to its market for U.S. products, including pork. NPPC, which last month filed a GSP review petition with USTR, is …
Sustainability Efforts in the Wool Industry
We talked yesterday again about the sustainability efforts in the beef industry. But other sectors of agriculture are also working on sustainability, including the sheep and wool industry. The American Sheep Industry Association (ASI) recently provided information through Dr. Paul Swan from Australia, International Wool Textile Organization (IWTO) technical advisor on sustainability and the wool life-cycle analysis. He says it’s …
USDA Proposes Rule to Eliminate Redundant Hog Carcass Cleaning Regulation
The Department of Agriculture last week proposed to amend federal meat inspection regulations to repeal what USDA calls a redundant regulatory requirement for hog slaughter establishments. The Food Safety and Inspection Service says the proposed rule would remove a redundant requirement that requires hog slaughter establishments to clean hog carcasses before cutting. Establishments are required to have a Hazard Analysis …
China Steps Up Pork Inspections, Slowing Imports
China is stepping up inspections of pork imports from the United States. Ports are opening and inspecting every cargo that arrives, according to a report by Reuters, compared with inspections carried out only “randomly” in the past. Some trade experts see the move, along with other similar actions by China, as a warning to the United States in response to …