The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Chief Veterinary Officer, Dr. Jack Shere is reminding pig producers and veterinarians of the signs and symptoms of a deadly swine disease that could dramatically impact the U.S. pig population. African swine fever (ASF) is a highly contagious foreign animal disease that affects both domestic and feral (wild) pigs. It does not affect human …
USDA Continues to Prevent African Swine Fever from Entering the U.S.
Provides New Resources to Raise Awareness of the Deadly Disease Last week, USDA-trained detector dogs played a major role in the seizure of roughly 1 million pounds of pork smuggled from China where there is an outbreak of African swine fever (ASF). The highly contagious and deadly disease affects both domestic and feral (wild) pigs and there is no treatment or vaccine …
Applications Due for 2019 Pork Industry Scholarships
The deadline to apply for the National Pork Board’s 2019 Pork Industry Scholarships is March 15. Students who have plans to pursue a career in swine production management or a related field, and students who are looking to attend a veterinary or graduate school with an emphasis on swine are encouraged to apply. The National Pork Board will award up …
U.S. Beef Exports Reach New Heights in 2018; Pork Hurt by Tariffs
USDA export numbers compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation show U.S. beef exports in 2018 topped both volume and value records that were set in 2017. Pork export volume came up just shy of the 2017 record and the value also fell one percent. Strong demand in South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and the Asian region helped drive beef exports …
NPPC Approves Resolutions On Important Issues
At the annual business meeting of the National Pork Producers Council – the National Pork Industry Forum held March 7-8 in Orlando, Fla. – NPPC delegates adopted several important resolutions, including those that call on NPPC to: Strengthen pork industry efforts to prevent foreign animal diseases (FADs) from entering the United States. Separate resolutions were adopted, directing NPPC to: work …
Formal Lab-Grown Fake Meat Agreement is “What Consumers Deserve”
National Cattlemen’s Beef Association President Jennifer Houston released the following statement in response to the formal agreement announced by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on lab-grown fake meat oversight: “The formal agreement announced today (03-07-19) solidifies USDA’s lead oversight role in the production and labeling of lab-grown fake meat products. This is what NCBA …
USDA and FDA Announce a Formal Agreement to Regulate Cell-Cultured Food Products from Cell Lines of Livestock and Poultry
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a formal agreement to jointly oversee the production of human food products derived from the cells of livestock and poultry. FSIS and FDA released a formal agreement to address the regulatory oversight …
USDA Strengthens Partnerships and Protections to Keep ASF Out of the Country
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced additional steps to keep African swine fever (ASF) from entering the United States, even as the disease spreads internationally. These steps strengthen the protections announced last fall after the deadly swine disease reached China. The goal remains to protect our nation’s swine industry from this disease. ASF does not affect people, nor …
Farm Groups Demand Justice for North Carolina Hog Farmers
A judgment stemming from a $50 million verdict must be overturned, farm groups told a federal appeals court in Richmond, Virginia. Earlier last year, juries in three separate trials in Raleigh, North Carolina, awarded punitive damages of more than $500 million to neighbors of North Carolina hog farms. Plaintiffs claimed the odor and truck noise related to the farms should …
USMEF to Discuss Exports and Opportunities at Pork Forum
The National Pork Industry Forum will be held this Thursday, March 7th at the Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate near Orlando, Florida. And according to a report from Joe Schuele, U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) President and CEO Dan Halstrom will be one of the speakers. Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsJuly 1, 2026FL Cattle Enhancement Board Wraps up Funding YearJune 30, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board …