Secretary of Transportation on HOS Regulations for Livestock Haulers

Dan Beef, Cattle, Dairy, Equine, Livestock, Pork, Poultry, Sheep-Goats

Back in late November of last year, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announced they had extended the waiver for commercial truckers from the Federal Hours of Service (HOS) regulation until Feb. 28, 2022. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, in March 2020 the FMCSA included livestock haulers in an initial emergency declaration that provided an exemption from the HOS regulation for …

Dealing with a Dreaded Weed Harmful to Pets and Livestock

Dan Cattle, Livestock, This Land of Ours

How to deal with a dreaded weed that is harmful to your pets.  That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Goat head weed is sometimes referred to as puncturevine, cat’s head, or devil’s thorn. It’s an annual broadleaf that readily reseeds itself. Not only is it difficult to eradicate, but it can also poison livestock and pets. It thrives …

Small Family Farms Produce Majority of Poultry and Eggs, And Hay

Dan Pasture, Poultry

USDA’s Economic Research Service reports most values of cotton, dairy and specialty crops are produced on large-scale family farms, according to 2020 data. USDA defines a family farm as one in which the principal operator and related family own the majority of the assets used in the operation. Large-scale family farms have an annual gross cash farm income of $1 …

Application Deadlines Looming for Two USDA Farm Programs

Dan Cattle, Livestock, USDA

Livestock producers have only a few more days to apply for two of USDA’s disaster-related assistance programs. Gary Crawford has more. Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Producers Proactive In Research Efforts Funded by the Florida Cattle Enhancement BoardJanuary 16, 2026Florida Cattle Industry Supports Administration of Florida Cattle Enhancement BoardJanuary 9, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Provides Significant Support For ResearchDecember 19, 2025Florida Cattle …

African Swine Fever One Reason for Stopping Food Smuggling

Dan Exports/Imports, Pork, Poultry

USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) reported last week that Federal agents had seized and destroyed more than 1,900 pounds of prohibited pork, poultry and ruminant products from New York City-area retailers in the past three months. Smuggling of prohibited foreign food products into the U.S. does pose a threat to U.S. agriculture, but USDA and other agencies are …

Pork Exports May Top 2020’s Record Amount

Dan Exports/Imports, Pork

Numbers from the U.S. Department of Commerce say exports of U.S. pork are on pace to top 2020’s record total of $7.7 billion. From January through November, the U.S. pork industry shipped more than $7.5 billion worth of products to foreign destinations, compared to just over $7 billion from the same period in 2020. The top five markets for American …

India Agrees to Allow Imports of U.S. Pork

Dan Exports/Imports, Pork, Trade

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and Trade Representative Katherine Tai announced Monday that the government of India has agreed to allow imports of U.S. pork and pork products into India, removing a longstanding barrier to U.S. agricultural trade. This news follows the successful revitalization of the U.S.-India Trade Policy Forum held in New Delhi in November 2021. The National …

November Beef Exports Set New Value Record

Dan Beef, Cattle, Exports/Imports, Pork

According to data released late last week by the U.S. Department of Agriculture that was compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF), beef export value reached another new high in November. It actually topped the $1 billion mark for the second time in 2021. November pork exports, while a bit lower than a year ago, saw year-to-date export values …

Registration Now Open for 2022 Stakeholders Summit

Dan Beef, Cattle, Dairy, Education, Livestock

The Animal Agriculture Alliance notes that there is only one way to effectively safeguard the future of animal agriculture, and that is together. So, they want producers to know they have the opportunity to come together in person once again. The 2022 Animal Agriculture Alliance Stakeholders Summit is your chance to meet and collaborate with stakeholders throughout the food chain …

WLAC to Hold Eastern Qualifying Event

Dan Cattle, Livestock

The final of the three regional qualifying events for the World Livestock Auctioneer Championship (WLAC) will be hosted by Tri-State Livestock Market in Abingdon, Va., on January 7th. A total of 30 contestants will compete for a top 10 placing, granting them a spot in the semi-finals for the 2022 WLAC in Shipshewana, Indiana. Each qualifying event is a live …