The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is finalizing amendments to its import regulations for horses. These amendments will better align our regulations with international standards and allow more flexibility for permitted imports, while continuing to mitigate the risk of bringing equine diseases into the United States. The regulations also provide APHIS with …
Pasture and Rangeland Poor Conditions Continue to Expand
Continued dryness over much of the country is behind the growing very poor to poor pasture and rangeland condition ratings for the nation as a whole. Rod Bain has the story. USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey has more information about pasture and rangeland in the very-poor to poor condition category by state. Sponsored ContentWhat Sets Provysol® Fungicide ApartJuly 8, 2025CIR Agriculture …
September is National Chicken Month
September is National Chicken Month, celebrating the most-consumed meat in the U.S. Two-thirds of all chickens in America are raised in Alabama, Georgia, Arkansas, North Carolina, Mississippi, and Texas. Chicken is also one of the top agricultural exports for the U.S. Foreign markets are increasingly important, accounting for $4.4 billion and 16 percent of world production in 2022. The U.S. …
FAPRI Releases U.S. Baseline Outlook
The Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute (FAPRI) at the University of Missouri released its annual U.S. Baseline Outlook report. It includes projections for agricultural and biofuel markets and helps in evaluating alternative scenarios for agricultural policy. “Projected prices for most crops, poultry, and dairy products all retreat in 2023 from recent peaks, and so do some production expenses,” says …
NPPC President Not Willing to “Bet the Farm” on Prop 12
Now that California’s Prop 12 is in effect, hog producers around the nation are having to decide if they’re going to change their operations to comply. National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) President Scott Hays says it’s an individual choice, and one his family farm turned down. “If you think about it from a producer perspective, most of the cost is …
Good July for Pork Exports but Slow for Beef
Building on a robust first-half performance, July exports of U.S. pork continued to outpace year-ago levels, according to data released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF). But, beef exports took a step back in July, posting the lowest volume since January. Starting with the good news, pork exports in July were up 5% year-over-year, while the export value …
July Pork Exports Above Year-Ago Levels, Slow Month for Beef Exports
According to numbers released by the USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF), July exports of U.S. pork continued to outpace year-ago levels. On the other hand, beef exports took a step back in July, posting the lowest volume since January, but export value per head of fed slaughter again exceeded $400. July pork exports totaled 219,014 …
Alabama Application Deadline for Meat and Poultry Processing Nearing
Here’s a reminder from the Alabama Agricultural Development Authority that it is accepting loan applications under the Alabama Meat Processing Program. This program is a result of a $15 million award from the USDA through the Meat and Poultry Intermediary Lending Program. Applications for Phase I will close Thursday, September 14, 2023. The low interest loans are intended to support …
Idalia Kills at Least Five Million Chickens in Florida
Almost a week after Hurricane Idalia hit Florida, the livestock body count is climbing higher, especially in poultry operations. The Messenger says estimates say as many as five million chickens died from the Category Three storm. Winds were around 125 mph when the storm hit land, and the hurricane tore apart barns and fence lines and killed livestock from cattle …
ASI Board Approves Budget
The American Sheep Industry Association (ASI) Board of Directors recently approved the association’s budgets and membership rates for fiscal year 2023-24. Voting was conducted online after preliminary approval of both the Wool Trust and Fund II budgets by the ASI Executive Board at its summer meeting in Idaho. Plus, ASI wants producers to know their 2024 Annual Convention will be held January …