Last week, House Agriculture Committee Chair David Scott from Georgia, introduced H.R 8590, the Small Family Farmer and Rancher Relief Act. The legislation is designed to help small farmers and ranchers in the cattle industry. In a statement, Scott said “It’s a crisis in this nation that we’ve lost an average of 17,000 cattle ranchers per year. The drivers of the loss are complex, …
New Lamb Market Monthly Report Will Help Producers
The American Lamb Board (ALB) announced the introduction of a new monthly lamb market summary to provide the industry with increased data and analysis. The board engaged the American Sheep Industry Association to prepare the monthly Lamb Market Summary. The report will include sheep and lamb slaughter, lamb imports, sheep and lamb prices, and a market forecast. An economic overview of the …
Poultry Producers Settle Claims on Unfair Worker Treatment
Three of the biggest poultry processors in the U.S. will settle claims by the Justice Department over their alleged efforts to work together to drive down employee compensation. Reuters said Cargill, Sanderson Farms, and Wayne Farms agreed to pay a combined $84 million in restitution to workers harmed by their alleged information sharing in order to settle civil antitrust lawsuits. …
Protecting Horses Against West Nile Virus
Protecting Horses Against West Nile Virus. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Since 1999, more than 25,000 cases of West Nile Virus encephalitis have been reported in horses, according to the American Association of Equine Practitioners. Department Head for Entomology and Plant Pathology at Oklahoma State University, Dr. Justin Talley, says West Nile Virus is spread by the …
Survey: Consumers Rely on Chicken Even as Inflation Affects Prices
A new survey presented by the National Chicken Council (NCC) and WATT Global Media shows while consumers average rating for their current financial situation is in the middle between “poor” and “excellent,” 87 percent are buying more or the same amount of fresh chicken now compared to six months ago. The study, presented this week during the 2022 Chicken Marketing Summit in …
USDA Starts Issuing Payments for Spot Market Hog Pandemic
The USDA is increasing the amount of funding available for the Spot Market Hog Pandemic Program and expects to issue approximately $62.8 million in assistance payments to producers this week. SMHPP assists eligible producers who sold hogs through a spot market sale between April 16 and September 1 in 2020. “In order to provide more targeted support to hog producers …
June Egg Production Drops Three Percent, Milk Up Slightly
The USDA says America’s egg production totaled 8.67 billion during June, a three percent drop from last year. Production included 7:39 billion table eggs and 1.28 billion hatching eggs. Of the hatching eggs, 1.19 billion were broilers and 89.4 million were egg-type. The average number of egg layers totaled 366 million in June, down four percent from last year. June …
New Ag Coalition Focuses on Bioeconomy
A new coalition of agriculture groups with a new focus. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Several industry associations launched the Ag Bioeconomy Coalition just days ago, to advance federal policy initiatives that foster growth toward a circular economy based on innovative products derived from agricultural commodities. Encompassing a broad range of technologies, the ag bioeconomy uses renewable, …
Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Confirmed in Florida
(USDA-APHIS/WASHINGTON, July 22, 2022) — The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has confirmed the presence of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in a non-commercial backyard flock (non-poultry) in Seminole County, Florida. Samples from the flock were tested at the Bronson Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, part of the National Animal Health Laboratory Network, …
NCBA, NPPC among Ag Groups Supporting Beagle Brigade
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) and the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) are among a coalition of agricultural organizations calling for passage of the Beagle Brigade Act of 2022. The bill would authorize the National Detector Dog Training Center, which trains canines who are nicknamed the “Beagle Brigade.” NCBA Executive Director of Government Affairs, Allison Rivera, said “The Beagle Brigade is crucial for …