Members of the U.S. House of Representatives sent a letter to Virachai Plasai, ambassador of the Kingdom of Thailand to the United States, calling for the removal of restrictions on imports of U.S. farm products, including U.S. pork. The bipartisan letter – signed by 44 members and sponsored by Representatives David Young, R-IA, and Ron Kind, D-WI – calls for the …
NPPC: Oppose Brat-Blumenauer Farm Bill Rider
The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) is urging House lawmakers to oppose an amendment to the 2018 Farm Bill that would gut the federally authorized commodity research and promotion programs, commonly known as checkoffs. NPPC joined more than 40 agricultural organizations on a letter sent to House Agriculture Committee Chairman Michael Conaway, R-Texas, and Ranking Member Collin Peterson, D-Minn., asking …
USTR To Review Thailand’s GSP Trade Benefits
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has agreed with a request from the National Pork Producers Council to review Thailand’s eligibility for the U.S. Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program because of that country’s failure to provide access to its market for U.S. products, including pork. NPPC, which last month filed a GSP review petition with USTR, is …
USDA Proposes Rule to Eliminate Redundant Hog Carcass Cleaning Regulation
The Department of Agriculture last week proposed to amend federal meat inspection regulations to repeal what USDA calls a redundant regulatory requirement for hog slaughter establishments. The Food Safety and Inspection Service says the proposed rule would remove a redundant requirement that requires hog slaughter establishments to clean hog carcasses before cutting. Establishments are required to have a Hazard Analysis …
China Steps Up Pork Inspections, Slowing Imports
China is stepping up inspections of pork imports from the United States. Ports are opening and inspecting every cargo that arrives, according to a report by Reuters, compared with inspections carried out only “randomly” in the past. Some trade experts see the move, along with other similar actions by China, as a warning to the United States in response to …
Analyst: Labor Shortages and Volatile Feed Prices Ahead for Meat Industry
A Rabobank analyst says the U.S. could be on the tail end of the second longest expansion of its economy in history. Rabobank Analyst Don Close told the North American Meat Institute this week there are implications for the meat industry, including a pending labor shortage and possible volatile commodity prices ahead, according to meat industry publication Meatingplace. Close warns …
If It’s Meat, It’s USDA’s Responsibility to Make Sure It’s Safe
If a food product is labeled “meat,” Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue says it is USDA’s responsibility to ensure its safety for consumers. Stephanie Ho has the story. If It’s Meat, Its USDA’s Responsibility Sponsored ContentWhat Sets Provysol® Fungicide ApartJuly 8, 2025CIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsJuly 1, 2025Nuseed Carinata Covers New GroundOctober 1, 2024
USDA Seeks Feedback from Growers about 2018 Crops, Stocks, Livestock Inventories and Values
During the next several weeks, U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will conduct two major mid-year surveys, the June Agricultural Survey and the June Area Survey. The agency will contact nearly 700 producers across Florida to determine crop acreage and stock levels as of June 1, 2018. “Two of the most important and well-known surveys NASS …
Livestock, Milk Production and Income-Southern Region
Cash Receipts for Meat Animals Up/Milk Production Increased Total 2017 production of meat animals (cattle and calves and hogs and pigs) for the United States totaled 81.7 billion pounds, up 4 percent from 2016. Production increased 4 percent for cattle and calves and 3 percent for hogs and pigs. Total 2017 cash receipts from marketings of meat animals increased 7 percent to …
Rabobank: Challenges Ahead for U.S. Global Pork Trade
A Rabobank analysis says the proposed Chinese tariff on U.S pork imports could cost American producers $6 to $8 per head. The Rabobank Pork Quarterly Q2 report says the China-U.S. tension exemplifies what could be a challenging year ahead for the pork industry in 2018. African swine fever in Europe could be another challenge in the global pork trade. The …