The deadline for pork producers to submit applications for the USDA Spot Market Hog Pandemic Program (SMHPP) originally was today, February 25th. But, the signup has been extended until April 15th. The program assists producers who sold hogs through a spot market sale between April 16 and September 1 of 2020. USDA notes that during those months, producers faced the …
$215 Million Committed to Enhance the Rural American Food Supply Chain
Department Will Make Available $215 Million for Projects That Will Promote Competition and Increase Resiliency and Create Economic Opportunity in Rural America (USDA/WASHINGTON, Feb. 24, 2022) — U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that USDA is making available up to $215 million in grants and other support to expand meat and poultry processing options, strengthen the food supply …
USDA/APHIS Finds Avian Influenza in Maine and Delaware
USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) recently confirmed the presence of highly pathogenic avian influenza, or HPAI, in a non-commercial backyard flock in Maine. Samples from the flock were tested at the Cornell University Animal Health Diagnostic Center, part of the National Animal Health Laboratory Network, and confirmed at the APHIS National Veterinary Services Laboratories in Ames, Iowa. …
USDA-NRCS Investing in Partner-Driven Conservation on Ag and Forest Land
The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Florida and Georgia reminds conservation partners that up to $225 million in funding is being made available through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). The partner-driven program leverages collective resources to find solutions to address natural resource challenges on agricultural land. This year’s funding announcement includes opportunities for projects that address climate change, benefit …
Breaking Down Sustainability in the Pork Industry
Sustainability is a term we hear quite a bit anymore. But some, especially consumers, may not understand exactly what that means. So, how might both consumers and producers better understand the concept of sustainability? Rod Bain reports that pork producers are working on ways to better communicate what sustainability means. Sponsored ContentWhat Sets Provysol® Fungicide ApartJuly 8, 2025CIR Agriculture Harvester …
Things that Humans Do that Horses Dislike
Some of the things that humans do that horses dislike. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Horses are hypervigilant. Any unfamiliar sound or object can spook them enough to throw someone, or rear up and flail around. Horses especially don’t like it when people approach from behind. Even the friendliest horses have been known to cause serious bodily …
Georgia Dept. of Ag Suspends Certain Poultry and Feathered Fowl Activities
All exhibitions, shows, sales (flea markets, auction markets), swaps, and meets pertaining to poultry and feathered fowl in Georgia are suspended until further notice. Notifications will be announced when listed activities can resume in Georgia. Although there have been no cases of avian influenza (AI) identified in commercial or domestic poultry in Georgia, Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) has been …
Helping Build Demand for U.S. Soybeans and Poultry
The 2022 International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE) recently took place in Atlanta, Georgia, an event where the global poultry industry gathered to learn more about issued and products for the industry. The U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) team was one of those at the event, as they explained to attendees the nutritional and quality advantages of U.S. Soy for poultry production. Senior Director …
Records for Red Meat Exports Underscores Importance of Trade Agreements
U.S. red meat exports reached unprecedented levels in 2021. And according to a story from Joe Schuele, trade agreements played a major role in this success story. A detailed summary of the 2021 red meat export results is available from the USMEF website. 2021 Beef Exports Shatter Previous Records; Pork Export Value Also Reaches New High U.S. beef exports greatly exceeded previous …
Organizations Ask EPA to Withdraw Proposed New WOTUS Rule
The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) was one of the organizations asking the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to withdraw their proposed new WOTUS rule. Last week, NPPC signed onto two sets of comments asking the EPA to withdraw it. Submitted by the Waters Action Coalition (WAC), of which NPPC is a member, and the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF), the comments detail …