AFBF: No Methane Tax on Animals in Reconciliation Bill

Dan Cattle, Dairy, Economy, Legislative, Livestock, Regulation

The American Farm Bureau Federation, addressing a social media myth, says “the current language of the reconciliation bill does not impose a methane tax on agriculture.” Those words from AFBF’s Public Affairs Vice President Sam Kieffer, who says the statement seeks to clear up any confusion. Kieffer says that over the summer, Farm Bureau economists conducted an analysis, at the …

Groups Pleased with USDA Investment in Agriculture Announcement

Dan Pork, USDA

This week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced a comprehensive set of investments to address challenges facing America’s agricultural producers. Of the $3 billion investment, up to $500 million will be used to prevent the spread of African Swine Fever (ASF). This will be through robust expansion and coordination of monitoring, surveillance, prevention, quarantine, and eradication activities through USDA’s …

Vietnam Tariff Rate Reduction an Important Step for U.S. Pork

Dan Exports/Imports, Pork, Tariff

The recent announcement about the Vietnam tariff rate reduction is an important step for U.S. Pork. Joe Schuele has the details. More details about this can be found on the U.S. Meat Export Federation website. Sponsored ContentWhat Sets Provysol® Fungicide ApartJuly 8, 2025CIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsJuly 1, 2025Nuseed Carinata Covers New GroundOctober 1, 2024

AFBF, NPPC File Prop. 12 Appeal to Supreme Court

Dan Pork

Monday, the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) and the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to take their case against California’s Proposition 12, which would ban the sale of pork from hogs that don’t meet the state’s “arbitrary” production standards. The appeal to the high court comes after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit in July upheld …

ERS: Interest in Antibiotic-free Chicken Increasing

Dan Organic, Poultry

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service last week released a report titled “The Market for Chicken Raised Without Antibiotics, 2012–17.” The report studies consumer attitudes for chicken raised without antibiotics and their purchases of the products. The analysis grouped chicken products into three distinct market segments: classic, processed, and sausage. Between 2012 and 2017, household expenditure shares for …

Industry Responds to Coalition Announced at UN Summit

Dan Cattle, Livestock

Agriculture and food industry groups welcome the formation of the Coalition of Action on Sustainable Productivity Growth for Food Security and Resource Conservation. The North American Meat Institute (NAMI) announced that it will join the effort. The Meat Institute expects to announce in November ambitious, data-driven targets to publicly verify progress on the 100 metrics in its sustainability framework. NAMI …

Ag Disasters Funding Included in House Stop-Gap Funding Bill Facing Senate GOP Filibuster

Dan Beef, Cattle, Dairy, Economy, Field Crops, Legislative, Livestock

House Democrats included billions for Ag disaster aid in their stop-gap government funding bill that passed on a party-line vote, but that now faces a Senate GOP filibuster over its debt limit hike. The stop-gap spending bill to avert a government shutdown October first passed on a partisan 220-211 vote, despite Democrats including billions for Ag and other disasters. Here …

USMEF Anxious to See USTR at Full Strength

Dan Beef, Cattle, Exports/Imports, Livestock

President Biden recently announced the nomination of Elaine Trevino to serve as chief agriculture negotiator for the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR). Trevino is currently president of the Almond Alliance of California and serves on USDA’s Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee (APAC). U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) President and CEO Dan Halstrom praised Trevino’s nomination and said it is important to have USTR …