July Beef Exports Stay on $1 Billion per Month Pace

New data released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) shows U.S. beef exports again topped $1 billion in July and posted the fifth-largest volume on record. The same report also shows pork exports, while still below last year’s pace, did continue to gain strength in Colombia and the Caribbean and …

USDA Awards Grants to Further Strengthen Meat and Poultry Supply Chains

(USDA/WASHINGTON, August 31, 2022) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) announced an additional $21.9 million of funding is being awarded to 111 grant projects through the Meat and Poultry Inspection Readiness Grant Program (MPIRG), bringing total funding to $54.6 million. This year’s awards will fund projects in 37 states. The funding will help strengthen and develop …

USDA Announces New Opportunities to Improve Nutrient Management

Now that both the U.S. Senate and House have passed the Inflation Reduction Act, it only awaits the signature of President Biden. And the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) welcomed the passage of the Act, which they note will deliver $19.5 billion in new conservation funding to support climate-smart agriculture. Funding from the Act is designed to will bolster new steps …

Pork Exports Down First Half of 2022 but Show Signs of Improvement

U.S. pork exports for the first half of the year were down by 19% in volume and 18% in value over the same period of 2021, according to recently released data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. From January through June, the U.S. pork industry shipped to foreign destinations almost 1.1 million metric tons (MT) of product valued at $3 …

Tyson Foods Reports Sales Slump

Reduced domestic and international demand for pork is hitting Tyson Foods, one of the nation’s top pork producers. The Arkansas-based meatpacker reported this week that the company earned approximately $25 million from its pork business for the three months ending on July 3. That’s about 63 percent lower than the same quarter in 2021. The company reports that China, the …

South Korea Opens Duty-Free Quota for Imported Beef

South Korea is currently the leading value market for U.S. beef exports, with shipments on pace to possibly reach $3 billion this year. But rising food prices are a concern in Korea, and the government is taking steps to ease the burden on consumers. As part of this effort, Korea recently opened a 100,000 metric ton duty-free quota on imported …

New NPB VP Suggests Volunteering, Talks Priorities

Strengthening the pork industry through volunteers. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Volunteer involvement will strengthen any organization. Bob Ruth, the newly elected National Pork Board (NPB) vice president, was ecstatic to share why producers should get involved at the local, state, or national levels. He says the passion one has for the industry magnifies the story. “I …

NCBA, NPPC among Ag Groups Supporting Beagle Brigade

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) and the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) are among a coalition of agricultural organizations calling for passage of the Beagle Brigade Act of 2022. The bill would authorize the National Detector Dog Training Center, which trains canines who are nicknamed the “Beagle Brigade.” NCBA Executive Director of Government Affairs, Allison Rivera, said “The Beagle Brigade is crucial for …

New Report Highlights U.S. Pork Industry Contributions

This week, the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) released a new economic report that highlights how pig farmers in the U.S. are significant contributors to the agricultural and overall economy. The report highlights pork industry value chain contributions and growth over the past five years. “This report underscores how the pork industry is an important pillar to the U.S. economy and the positive ripple …