As of June 1, there were 72.5 million hogs and pigs on United States farms, down 1% from June 2021 and down slightly from March 1, 2022, according to the Quarterly Hogs and Pigs report published by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). NASS surveyed roughly 4,700 operators across the nation during the first half of …
Global Appetite for Pork
Increasing the global taste for pork. That’s today’s This Land of Ours. There’s a global appetite for U.S. pork, so National Pork Board uses Pork Checkoff funds to advance international product promotion along with the U.S. Meat Export Federation. The Pork Board’s Vice President of International Market Development Courtney Knupp says the strategy is two-fold. “First to differentiate U.S. pork …
USDA to Measure Feral Swine Damage in the Southeast
The USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is conducting a Feral Swine Damage survey to measure the costs of feral swine damage to crop operations. The survey is conducted in cooperation with the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) – Wildlife Services. In an effort to obtain the most accurate data, NASS will reach out to more than 11,000 producers …
NPPC Welcomes Biden Administration Siding with Farmers on Prop 12
The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) welcomed a Supreme Court brief filed by the Biden administration in favor of ag groups regarding California’s Proposition 12. The state law seeks to ban the sale of pork from pigs that do not meet the state’s arbitrary production standards, including pork from pigs raised on farms outside of California. NPPC assistant vice president and general …
Inflation Prompts Some Trading Partners to Cut Tariffs on Red Meat
South Korea is the latest country to suspend import duties on pork and other food items in an effort to combat inflation. They join Mexico, the Philippines, Taiwan, Vietnam and Brazil in reducing or eliminating tariffs on certain food items to lower consumer prices. And while these tariff reductions sometimes benefit global competitors more than U.S. red meat, the overall …
AFBF and NPPC Tell Supreme Court Proposition 12 is Unconstitutional
The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) and National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) filed a brief with the U.S. Supreme Court challenging the constitutionality of California’s Proposition 12. The state law seeks to ban the sale of pork from hogs that don’t meet the state’s arbitrary production standards, even if the pork was raised on farms outside of California. AFBF and …
April Beef, Lamb Exports Up, Pork Down
The latest red meat export report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture show beef exports maintained a remarkable pace in April, topping $1 billion for the third time this year. USMEF Meat Export Federation (USMEF) President and CEO, Dan Halstrom, offers insight into what continues to drive global demand for U.S. beef. Beef exports totaled 124,408 metric tons (mt) in …
Key Policy Issues Lead NPPC Strategic Agenda
Wednesday, a panel led by National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) experts at World Pork Expo discussed the pork industry’s current policy priorities that are vital to producers’ livelihoods and the future success of the industry. As part of the pork industry’s long-range strategic planning process, the Pork Industry Visioning Task Force prioritized international trade, foreign animal disease and labor as key policy …
Stay Safe During the Summer Grilling Season
Stay safe during the summer grilling season. That’s today’s This Land of Ours. With summer officially here, it’s that time again when a lot of us will be gathering around the grill. Millions of people get sick each year because of a lack of food safety while grilling, but you don’t have to be one of them. The USDA offers …
NPPC Pushing for Market Access in Asia-Pacific Countries
Last week the Biden Administration launched the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF). It’s a U.S.-led trade initiative that includes Australia, Brunei, India, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. But, the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) continues to push for better market access through the elimination of tariffs and non-tariff barriers in a number of the IPEF …