Over seventy lawmakers sent letters to the Biden Administration asking the administration to stop a recent court order from harming U.S. hog farmers. The letters call on Agriculture Secretary Vilsack and Acting Solicitor General Prelogar to appeal a recent federal district court striking down pork harvest facility line speeds allowed under the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s New Swine Inspection System (NSIS). The …
USDA Report Shows Cuts in Hog Numbers
A new USDA report shows hog producers may be scaling down production plans more than some industry analysts expected. Gary Crawford has the story. USDA livestock analyst Shayle Shagam runs through some of the key numbers from Thursday’s USDA quarterly Hogs and Pigs report. Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Plays Major Role In Applied Beef Cattle ResearchOctober 17, 2025FCEB Recurring …
New USDA Grants to Benefit Meat and Poultry Inspection Operations
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced $55.2 million in competitive funding will be available through the new Meat and Poultry Inspection Readiness Grant (MPIRG) program. The new program is being funded through the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021. “We are building capacity and increasing economic opportunity for small and midsized meat and poultry processors and producers across the …
New Bill Addresses Anti-Competitive Practices in Meat Processing Industry
Iowa Republican Senator Chuck Grassley joined fellow Republican Mike Rounds of South Dakota and Jon Tester, a Montana Democrat, in introducing legislation on meatpacking. The bill would address the anti-competitive practices in the meat and poultry industries that threaten the nation’s food supply and national security. The legislation comes on the heels of a recent ransomware attack on JBS, one …
World Pork Expo Showcases Top Pork Priorities
World Pork Expo last week brought a highlight of pork industry priorities. The National Pork producers Council (NPPC) used the event to focus on the organization’s priorities in 2021. Those include the federal district court ruling striking down faster harvest facility line speeds. They are also challenging California’s Proposition 12, which is set to go into effect next year. It …
USDA to Begin Work to Strengthen Enforcement of the Packers and Stockyards Act
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced they will begin working on three proposed rules to support enforcement of the Packers and Stockyards (P&S) Act, the 100-year old law that was originally designed to protect poultry and hog farmers and cattle ranchers from unfair, deceptive, and anti-competitive practices in the meat markets. USDA’s pending action was noted in the …
Strong Momentum Continues for U.S. Beef and Pork Exports
Following that record-breaking March performance, exports of both U.S. beef and pork continued to build momentum in April, according to data released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF). “Looking back at April 2020, it was a difficult month for red meat exports as we began to see COVID-related supply chain interruptions and foodservice demand took a …
Vilsack on New Initiative Helping Small Meat Processing Facilities
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced plans to invest more than $4 billion to strengthen critical supply chains through their Build Back Better initiative. The new effort will strengthen the food system, create new market opportunities, tackle the climate crisis, help communities that have been left behind, and support good-paying jobs throughout the supply chain. During a call …
World Pork Expo Returns Next Week
The World Pork Expo makes an official return to the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines, June 9-11, and this year marks the 33rd annual event. Thousands of producers and industry professionals will gather to learn about the latest technologies, innovations, enjoy some free pork, and much more. The trade show will feature over 700 vendor booths and span more than 30,000 …
Market Diversification Stressed at USMEF Virtual Conference
The importance of market diversification for U.S. red meat exports was a key point of emphasis at the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) Spring Conference, which was held in a virtual format May 26-27. USMEF Chair Pat Binger, who heads international sales for Cargill Protein North America, addressed this topic in his opening remarks. Binger said this foresight is now …