ERS Study Shows Meatpackers Role in COVID Spread

Dan Beef, Coronavirus, Livestock, Pork, Poultry, USDA-ERS

A study from USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS) shows the role meatpacking plants played in the spread of COVID-19. In what ERS describes as a working paper, the study outlined 49 U.S. non-metro counties in which 20 percent or more of employment is in meatpacking, defined as meatpacking-dependent counties. This represents 41 percent of all nonmetro counties with employment in …

USDA Initiative to Create More and Better Market Opportunities

Dan Beef, Poultry, USDA

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), as part of their efforts to address food systems challenges arising from the pandemic as well as those going back decades, has announced plans for another $100 million in funding from the American Rescue Plan Act. The funding would leverage hundreds of millions more in lending through community and private sector lenders to expand …

Short-term Extension of Livestock Price Reporting Keeps Reform Issue Alive

Dan Cattle, Economy, Livestock

A short-term extension for Mandatory Livestock Price Reporting approved by Congress as part of a temporary stop-gap bill to keep the government open, allows more time for possible market reforms. Lawmakers voted for the extension as the authorization for existing mandatory reporting of livestock prices was about to expire, and temporary funding was needed to avert an end-of-fiscal-year government shutdown. …

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 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, …

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 …