A recent issue of the Florida Citrus Mutual Triangle newsletter provided information about the wage that growers must pay H-2A labor, effective Dec. 29. H-2A workers are foreign agricultural workers who are allowed to work in the United States temporarily. In recent years, the vast majority of Florida citrus has been harvested by H-2A workers. The Employment and Training Administration …
Various Issues Pushing Up Pork Prices but Not Profits
A report issued this week notes retail pork prices are rising, but not industry profits. Economists with Iowa State University, North Carolina State University and the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) says prices are rising due to increased transportation costs, supply bottlenecks and delays and increased labor costs throughout the pork chain. Those factors were either caused or exacerbated by …
Port Problems Plague Producers
The ongoing supply-chain crisis is a big headache to businesses and consumers alike, with no end in sight for the immediate future. Perishable products are particularly at risk, as even a week or two delay can affect product quality. The port delays that caused the supply-chain crisis began on the West Coast with labor shortages due to the pandemic. These …
Beef Export Value Shatters Annual Record; Pork Exports Still on Record Pace
According to new data released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF), October 2021 was another strong month for U.S. red meat exports as beef export value continued to soar. October pork exports were below last year’s large total but year-to-date shipments remained slightly above the record pace of 2020. Beef …
Challenges When Caring for Livestock in the Winter Time
How to care for Livestock in the winter time. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Winter can present challenges when caring for livestock, when it comes to protection, food, and care. Starting with their water source, you’ll need to regulate water temperatures to avoid freezing. Also, monitor the quality of the water. Is it muddy, dirty, or contaminated? …
Waiver from Trucking Federal Rule Extended
It was announced Monday that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) had extended a waiver for commercial truckers from the federal Hours of Service (HOS) regulation to Feb. 28, 2022. The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) thanked the Biden administration, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Meera Joshi, FMCSA deputy administrator for the extension. The HOS rule limits truckers to 11 hours of …
USDA Investing $32 Million to Strengthen U.S. Food Supply Chain
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced Monday they will be investing $32 million in grants through awards to 167 meat and poultry slaughter and processing facilities to support expanded capacity and efficiency through the Meat and Poultry Inspection Readiness Grant (MPIRG) program. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said, “Today’s investment supports local and regional meat and poultry processors as they recover from …
Strong Cattle Prices, Lower Hog Prices Going Into 2022
With steer prices continuing to rise, some wonder if that can continue into 2022. According to a story from Gary Crawford, they are expected to do just that. But, on the other hand hog prices are falling, and he reports that is expected to continue into next year. Sponsored ContentFCEB Recurring Funding Provides Opportunity for Longer Term Research ProjectsOctober 10, …
Vietnam Confirms Tariff Cut on U.S. Pork
Vietnam has confirmed it will lower its Most Favored Nation tariff on imported frozen pork from 15 to 10 percent. The reduction is expected to be implemented on July 1, 2022. Getting better market access to Vietnam, a major pork-consuming country, has been a top trade priority for the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC). They recently led efforts asking U.S. Trade …
2022 Beef and Pork Production Could Be Less than 2021
2022 could be a very unusual year for the nation’s meat sector. Gary Crawford has the story. Sponsored ContentFCEB Recurring Funding Provides Opportunity for Longer Term Research ProjectsOctober 10, 2025Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Advances Forage ResearchOctober 3, 2025Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Acts As Catalyst For Timely ResearchSeptember 26, 2025