The June USDA quarterly hog and pigs report showed an expanding U.S. swine herd. As of June 1st, there were 71.7 million hogs and pigs on American farms, up three percent from June of 2016 and the second largest inventory on record ever. National Hog Farmer Dot Com says the industry is in a growth mode, with the question now …
Food Safety for the Fourth of July
As you prepare for your Fourth of July picnic, food safety has to be at the top of the list. Cathy Isom has some tips on how to have a food safe Fourth of July this year for you and all of your guests. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Along with the fireworks, millions of us will …
Agri View: Animal Antibiotic Use
Everett Griner talks about animal antibiotic use. The issue is whether to use or not to use antibiotics on animals in today’s Agri View. Now, this thing about antibiotics has a lot of people confused. Farmers are forbidden to use antibiotics in animal production in a lot of cases. Consumers simply will not buy meat from animals that …
Canada Disputing U.S. Claims Regarding Poultry Trade
Canada’s Ambassador to the United States is firing back at claims that Canada is hindering the trade of poultry with the United States. Canadian Ambassador to the United States David MacNaughton told a group of senators who say Canada has denied access to U.S. poultry and eggs that their claims are “inaccurate.” McNaughton cited statistics on Canadian imports of U.S. …
All-American July 4th Cookout Down Slightly
Remains Under $6 Per Person A cookout of Americans’ favorite foods for the Fourth of July, including hot dogs, cheeseburgers, pork spare ribs, potato salad, baked beans, lemonade and chocolate milk, will cost slightly less this year, coming in at less than $6 per person, says the American Farm Bureau Federation. Farm Bureau’s informal survey reveals the average cost of a …
Sanderson Farms Sued Over Drugs in Poultry
Three of the bigger activist groups filed suit against Sanderson Farms, a major poultry-producing company. Politico’s Morning Ag Report says the Organic Consumers Association, Friends of the Earth, and Center for Food Safety all allege that the company is guilty of false advertising. Sanderson Farms’ chicken is marketed as 100 percent natural. The groups say the chicken contains a range …
China Plans Bird Flu Vaccine for Poultry
China will begin vaccinating poultry next month against the H7N9 avian influenza virus which has claimed hundreds of lives and caused major damage to the nation’s poultry industry. Reuters says the program will kick off in early July and targets all species including broiler chickens, ducks, geese and laying hens. The managing director of the China Poultry Association says “in …
Chicken Company Turning to Body Cameras
Elite Farm Services of British Columbia, Canada, is turning to body cameras to make sure its workers are following the required best management practices regarding animal handling. Elite came under fire this week after a Mercy for Animals undercover video showed workers hitting, throwing, and kicking chickens. Six workers have been fired and investigation into the matter is continuing. A …
Pork Industry Expanding in Response to Strong Demand
A new report out from CoBank says rising global demand for pork and stronger profitability will create a strong incentive for American pork processors to expand their capacity. Increased competition among processors may lead to a tightening of packer margins and give producers much more favorable prices in the months ahead. CoBank economist Trevor Amen says, “U.S. pork processing capacity …
Questions about GIPSA Rule
The Department of Agriculture’s extended comment period for the Obama-era rules to reform the buying and selling of livestock and poultry expired this past Monday. The rule is set to take effect October 19th under the Trump Administration’s new timeline, but there’s still uncertainty over its fate. So the question now is, will the so-called GIPSA marketing rule that’s divided …