The United States Department of Agriculture announced Monday their proposed plans for addressing complex competition issues in agricultural markets – an effort to level the playing field for poultry growers and farmers. Proposing the Poultry Grower Payment Systems and Capital Improvement Systems, USDA hopes to address multiple abuses in relation to grower ranking payment systems (commonly known as “tournament”) and …
USDA Program for Dairy Producers Amid H5N1
USDA announces a program to help dairy producers during the outbreak of the H5N1 virus. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Producers in participating states can soon enroll in a pilot program connected to continuing response to the HVN1 virus in dairy cows. Rod Bain has more. From the USDA: Continuing to build on the efforts to contain …
United States and European Union Consider Bird Flu Vaccinations
The United States and European Union are taking steps to acquire or manufacture H5N1 bird flu vaccines. Reports say the vaccines would protect at-risk poultry and dairy workers, veterinarians, and lab technicians. Experts say this could curb a pandemic threat. U.S. officials are already moving bulk vaccine that closely matches the current virus into almost five million vaccine doses. These …
Nation Watches Anti-Ag Activists in CA
A California farmers’ alliance is asking for help from farmers around the nation in battling animal rights activists. “They are not wrong to be concerned, depending on what happens here. We feel very confidently that this is a steppingstone, that they are seeking out to throw something against the wall and see what sticks. Because if they can make it …
Maintaining Safe Milk Supply Amid HPAI
The latest efforts to keep our milk supply safe. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. The Human and Health Services Secretary discusses some of the continued and increased efforts to assure a safe milk supply amid an outbreak of a High Path Avian Flu strain found in dairy cattle. Rod Bain reports. Listen to the This Land Of …
USDA Seeks to Reduce Chicken-Related Salmonella Outbreaks
(USDA/WASHINGTON D.C./ April 26, 2024) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced its final determination to declare Salmonella an adulterant in raw breaded stuffed chicken products when they exceed a specific threshold (1 colony forming unit (CFU) per gram or higher) for Salmonella contamination. This final determination is part of FSIS’ broader efforts to reduce Salmonella illnesses associated with the …
U.S. Poultry Value of Production and Sales Down 13 Percent
According to a new report from the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), the combined value of production from broilers, eggs, turkeys, and the value of sales from chickens in 2023 here in the U.S. was $67.1 billion, which is down 13% from the $77.2 billion in 2022. Of the combined total, 64 percent was from broilers, 27 percent from eggs, 10 percent …
Gov. Experts Say U. S. Milk Supply Safe Despite Trace Amounts of Inactive Bird Flu
Government experts say our milk supply remains safe despite an unusual outbreak of bird flu. Testing has revealed trace amounts of the bird flu virus that has affected dairy cows in milk on store shelves, however, experts around the nation agree that the milk supply remains safe for human consumption. The FDA and USDA say that’s because of two reasons: …
Forecasting April Meat Production
How are U.S. animal protein sectors performing? Mark Jekanowski, World Agricultural Outlook Board Chair, discusses beef, pork, and broiler production in USDA’s latest forecasts.
Dairy Defined Podcast: Biosecurity Top-of-Mind with HPAI
At the top of every dairy farmer’s mind right now is biosecurity and how to achieve it. The various cases of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) found in dairy cattle in several states has many concerned. In a new Dairy Defined Podcast Karen Jordan, a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, chairwoman of the National Dairy FARM Program’s animal care task force, …