The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced the appointment of 163 producers and five importers to the 2017 National Pork Producers Delegate Body. The appointees were selected from nominees submitted by state pork producer associations and importer groups and will serve a 1-year term. The Delegate Body will be seated during the Feb. 27, 2017, to March 3, 2017, …
NCC Pres. on Sonny Perdue Ag Secretary Possible Nomination
From the National Chicken Council: National Chicken Council President Mike Brown released the following statement in response to reports that former Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue was to be nominated to lead the U.S. Department of Agriculture: “Governor Perdue has a strong record as two-term chief executive of Georgia and is acquainted with a wide array of agriculture commodities, from chicken …
Trump Reportedly Taps Perdue as Ag Secretary
President-elect Donald Trump has reportedly picked former Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue to be Agriculture Secretary under the incoming administration. While the USDA landing team has yet to confirm the nominee, multiple media outlets attributed a senior transition official as saying Trump will nominate Perdue to the post. The American Farm Bureau strongly endorsed the nomination of Perdue following the news. …
Another ‘Midnight’ Regulation Dumped On Farmers
In another poke in the eye to agriculture, the Obama administration tomorrow will issue a regulation that adds animal welfare standards to the nation’s organic food production law. The National Pork Producers Council will work with the Trump administration and Congress to repeal yet another “midnight” regulation. Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Awarded Researcher Discusses New World Screwworm OverviewJune 19, …
Five Myths About the Veterinary Feed Directive
The new requirements for the Veterinary Feed Directive were officially in effect as of January first, but not without misconceptions. Producers must obtain authorization or a prescription to purchase medically important antibiotics for use in animal feed and drinking water. Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Awarded Researcher Discusses New World Screwworm OverviewJune 19, 2026Verdant Robotics Offers Growers Targeted Application of …
Ag in Review for the Week Ending January 13, 2017
In our recap of agricultural news from around the Southeast for the week ending January 13, USDA’s National Agriculture Statistics Service released their January crop reports Thursday, dairy operators are going to be surveyed over the next few months, U.S. farmers bought more tractors in 2016, Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Awarded Researcher Discusses New World Screwworm OverviewJune 19, 2026Verdant …
Changes Aimed at Ending the Inhumane Practice of Horse Soring
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) today announced a final rule that includes changes that will help to protect horses from the cruel and inhumane practice known as soring and eliminate the unfair competitive advantage that sore horses have over horses that are not sore. The practice of soring is intended to produce …
U.S. Poultry Industry Urged to Boost Biosecurity
The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced this week that a wild duck shot in Montana was carrying the H5N2 strain of avian influenza. And some are concerned the sick bird might be the forerunner to another avian influenza outbreak like the one which affected American poultry flocks back in 2014 and 2015. Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Awarded Researcher Discusses …
U.S. Shipping Eggs to South Korea
The United States is shipping near three million eggs to South Korea to help the nation cope with its worst-ever bird flu epidemic. Sponsored ContentFlorida 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, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Provides Resources To Researchers For Applied ResearchJune …
China’s Pork Imports Rise Along with Production Costs
By Fred Gale, USDA Economic Research Service Abstract: China has become a leading importer of pork as its hog production costs have grown. China-U.S. comparisons show that hog producers in China face higher feed and labor costs than U.S. producers, while costs of feeder pigs fluctuate from year to year in both countries. Efficiency of feed use has improved marginally …