The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced a top-to-bottom review of the “Product of the USA” label, which will inform a forthcoming rulemaking on this topic. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said “American consumers depend upon accurate, transparent labels to obtain important information about the food they consume. American farmers and ranchers depend upon those same labels to convey information about …
Dr. Janemarie Hennebelle Appointed as Georgia’s Next State Veterinarian
(ATLANTA/July 13, 2021) — Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Gary W. Black has appointed Dr. Janemarie Hennebelle as Georgia’s next State Veterinarian, succeeding Dr. Robert Cobb, who retired in June 2021. Hennebelle has served as Assistant State Veterinarian since September of 2016. In her new role, Hennebelle will oversee the Animal Health Division of the Georgia Department of Agriculture while managing staff …
Pandemic Assistance Available for Livestock Producers
Livestock and poultry producers who suffered losses during the Covid-19 pandemic due to insufficient access to processing will soon be able to apply for assistance for those losses and the cost of depopulation and disposal of the animals. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced the Pandemic Livestock Indemnity Program (PLIP), a part of USDA’s Pandemic Assistance for Producers initiative. Eligible livestock must …
Strong Variety Meat Demand Drives Record Month for Red Meat Exports
We told you last week that for the month of June, both U.S. beef and pork export values shattered previous records that were set back in May. Joe Schuele, with the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF), has details on how strong variety meat demand helped drive the record month. A detailed summary of red meat export results is available on …
USDA Announces Dates for CRP Grasslands Signups
Signup has opened for agricultural producers and landowners to apply for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Grasslands This year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) updated signup options to provide greater incentives for producers and increase the program’s conservation and climate benefits, including setting a minimum rental rate and identifying two national priority zones. The CRP Grassland signup is competitive, and USDA’s …
Meat Institute Opposes Government Intervention in Meat Market
The North American Meat Institute (NAMI) opposed recent action to make changes to the Packers and Stockyards Act. In a statement, the organization says, President Biden’s executive order calling for the Department of Agriculture to change the Packers and Stockyards rules will have unintended consequences for consumers and producers. Meat Institute President and CEO Julie Anna Potts states, “Government intervention …
Deadline Nearing to Apply for ADAI Relief Program
Back in April, the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries (ADAI) announced they were administering the Alabama Agriculture Relief Program (AARP) to provide USDA relief funds to farmers who suffered losses due to Hurricane Michael in 2018. While the original deadline to apply was June 25th, they want to remind those who experienced necessary expenses related to losses of beef …
USDA Supporting Expanded Meat Processing Capabilities
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced intentions to make significant investments to expand processing capacity and increase competition in meat and poultry processing to make agricultural markets more accessible, fair, competitive, and resilient for American farmers and ranchers. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says USDA will be investing $500 million in American Rescue Plan funds to expand meat and poultry processing …
Producers Can Now Hay, Graze and Chop Cover Crops Anytime
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that producers with crop insurance can hay, graze or chop cover crops for silage, haylage or baleage at any time of the year and still receive 100% of the prevented planting payment. Previously, cover crops could only be hayed, grazed or chopped after November 1, otherwise the prevented planting payment was reduced by …
NIFA Invests $14 Million in Animal Health and Disease Research
The Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) announced an investment of $14 million in research to protect agricultural animals from disease. The grants are part of NIFA’s Agriculture and Food Research Initiative’s Diseases of Agricultural Animals program area priority. NIFA director Carrie Castille says, “This research will help better understand, diagnose, control and prevent diseases in …