USDA March Meat Outlook

USDA’s March Meat Outlook notes more meat is expected to be produced than what was estimated last month. According to a story from Rod Bain, that could impact prices received by producers. Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Provides Critical Funding To Enhance Brahman GeneticsApril 24, 2026Strong Relationship Exists Between the Florida Cattle Enhancement Board and UF-IFASApril 17, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement …

Government Guidance Recognizing U.S. Agriculture as Critical Industry

(NPPC) — The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued guidance on critical industry workforce that should continue as the country addresses and responds to the coronavirus outbreak; U.S. food and agriculture was included among 16 critical industries. Specifically, DHS recognized as essential a variety of pork production roles. Among these critical workers: Food manufacturer employees and their supplier employees—to include those employed …

NPPC Seeks Labor Solutions for Potential COVID-19 Impact on Pork Supply Chain

(NPPC) — The fallout from an ongoing labor shortage facing the U.S. pork industry and other agriculture sectors could significantly worsen due to the impact of COVID-19, the National Pork Producers Council said in a letter to U.S. government officials today. NPPC’s concerns regarding COVID-19 are labor specific. There is no evidence that pigs can contract the virus. In a letter to …

Good 2020 Start for U.S. Pork and Beef Exports

(NAFB) — Following a record-breaking performance in 2019, U.S. pork exports maintained a torrid pace in January, while beef exports were also higher year-over-year. The U.S. Meat Export Federation says January pork exports cooled slightly from the volume and value records established in December 2019, but still far exceeded year-ago levels. Both the January export volume of 273,603 metric tons, …

USDA Announces Action Plan at Pork Forum

(USDA/APHIS) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs, Greg Ibach announced additional measures to control and eradicate African Swine Fever (ASF) if the virus is ever detected in the U.S.  “First and foremost, USDA is committed to doing all it can to prevent ASF from entering the U.S. and we greatly appreciate the …

Protein Exports Piling up in U.S. Due to Coronavirus

(NAFB) — The spread of coronavirus is causing a glut of protein in U.S. cold-storage facilities. The Wall Street Journal says the protein backup includes pork, chicken, and beef intended for export to overseas markets that have been hit by the outbreak. The quantity of breasts, thigh meat, and drumsticks has grown by 12 percent through the first month of …

Analysis Finds Demand for Meat Strong

Represents $50.5 billion in Sales for 2019 Meat Institute and FMI Release 2020 Power of Meat Analysis (FMI) — The Food Industry Association (FMI) and the Foundation for Meat and Poultry Research and Education, the foundation for the North American Meat Institute (Meat Institute), released their 15th-annual in-depth study of meat and poultry through shoppers’ eyes. The Power of Meat 2020 explores …

Hormel Eliminating Ractopamine from Hog Supplies

Hormel Foods is getting rid of ractopamine (rack-TOH-pah-meen), a growth drug banned by China, from its hog supply. Hormel is joining rival companies like Tyson Foods and JBS in looking to make more meat sales to China, which is in the middle of wrestling with a large shortage of pork. Hormel isn’t going to accept hogs that have been fed …

Update on Meat Demand and Distribution in China

With more dockworkers and others critical to China/Hong Kong’s food distribution chain now returning from an extended Lunar New Year holiday break, Joel Haggard, U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) senior vice president for the Asia Pacific, looks for a growing backlog of imported meat to begin making its way more smoothly into the market. Joe Schuele has the story. Sponsored …