USDA announced late last week that sign-up deadline for the Pandemic Livestock Indemnity Program (PLIP) has been extended to October 12th. PLIP is for swine, chicken and turkey producers who had to depopulate due to insufficient processing access as a result of the pandemic. Farm Service Agency (FSA) Administrator Zach Ducheneaux provides some details of the program. For more information, contact your local USDA Farm …
September Forecast for Beef, Pork and Poultry Production and Prices
USDA’s September outlook notes the trends of production and price for the beef sector are moving in opposite directions, while showing a reduction in pork production. Rod Bain has more details. World Agricultural Outlook Board Chair Mark Jekanowski also discusses the September outlook for poultry production and prices. Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsJuly 1, 2026FL Cattle Enhancement Board Wraps up …
Meat Institute: Scapegoating Industry Does Not Help Consumer
The North American Meat Institute (NAMI) this week claimed the Secretary of Agriculture’s transparent attempts to scapegoat the meat and poultry industry to shift blame for inflationary prices will not help consumers. NAMI President and CEO Julie Anna Potts states, “Americans are experiencing firsthand what the Secretary refuses to acknowledge, the effects of COVID and lack of labor are hurting …
NPPC Asks Congress to Address Agricultural Labor Shortage
With a scheduled vote in the U.S. House set for Monday, the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) is calling on Congress to include in a budget reconciliation bill language to expand the existing H-2A visa to year-round agricultural workers. Like many sectors of the economy, the U.S. pork industry is faced with a severe labor shortage. But even before the …
New White House Report Outlines Problems with Meat Industry Concentration
According to a new report from the White House, President Biden understands that families have been facing higher prices at the grocery store recently. And half of those recent increases are from meat prices, specifically, beef, pork, and poultry. While factors like increased consumer demand have played a role, the price increases are also driven by a lack of competition at …
Vilsack and Tai to Meet with USDA Ag Policy Committee
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai will meet with the Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee Friday. Topics include current and new trade deals, trade agreement implementation and concerns within the agreements. The committee, managed by the Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Trade Representative’s office, offers advice on U.S. trade policy. The committee consists of six technical …
USDA Gathering Data on Feral Swine Damage to Livestock Operations
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) has announced they will be conducting a Feral Swine Livestock Damage survey to measure the costs of feral swine damage to livestock operations. The survey is conducted in cooperation with the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Wildlife Services. Over 4,000 farms and ranches in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and …
Study: U.S. Pork Industry Needs More Access to Foreign-Born Workforce
The U.S. pork industry has been noting the struggles many producers across the country are having when it comes to a shortage with labor. An updated study reflecting the current state of the labor market was released by Iowa State University economists, and it notes despite competitive wages, the U.S. pork industry continues to struggle with a labor shortage that …
U.S. Regionalization Protocols Needed for ASF Situations
The confirmation of African Swine Fever (ASF) in the Dominican Republic (DR) last week was the first in the Western Hemisphere in 40 years. U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) President and CEO, Dan Halstrom, says while the findings are concerning, the U.S. industry is well-prepared for these situations. Halstrom noted the DR is an outstanding market for U.S. pork and he does …
National Farmers Market Week Underway
The U.S. Secretary of Agriculture proclaimed this first week of August as National Farmers Market Week. It is a way to champion the direct-to-consumer producers, market managers, and customers that make their communities come alive during market days. According to a story from Rod Bain, highlights of the week are not only the markets themselves, but the innovations that allow these institutions to …