U.S. consumer demand for meat at the retail level remains exceptionally strong despite rising prices caused by increased production costs and supply chain challenges. A new CoBank report says that may change soon. Once the full effect of increased costs of producer price inflation shows up in the retail meat case, demand will get tested. “Retail meat prices will remain …
Vilsack Authorizes Additional CCC Funds for HPAI Response
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack Wednesday approved Commodity Credit Corporation funding to assist USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service response to highly pathogenic avian influenza. The virus has been confirmed in 29 states, affecting more than 33 million domestic birds. APHIS is working closely with state animal health officials on joint incident responses in each affected state. To help ensure …
Poultry Industry Biosecurity Can’t Be Emphasized Enough
Due to highly pathogenic avian influenza being found in various states across the country, a USDA official says for the poultry industry right now there’s no such thing as too much biosecurity. Gary Crawford has more details. Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsJuly 1, 2026FL Cattle Enhancement Board Wraps up Funding YearJune 30, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Awarded Researcher Discusses New World Screwworm …
Officials Urging Poultry Producers to Tighten Up Biosecurity Even More
On Saturday, the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) confirmed the presence of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in a commercial layer chicken flock in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania and a non-commercial backyard flock (non-poultry) in Utah County, Utah. Both cases were confirmed at the APHIS National Veterinary Services Laboratories in Ames, Iowa. APHIS is working closely with state …
Bird Flu Driving Egg Processing Costs Higher
Processed eggs go into items ranging from salad dressings to cake mix. Bloomberg says the prices for those eggs intended for processing are soaring to record highs because of the avian influenza outbreak. The rapid spread of influenza could make this one of the biggest outbreaks in history. Twenty million birds have been culled from the nation’s flocks, which is …
USDA Releases Equity Action Plan
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has made its Equity Action Plan (PDF, 500 KB) publicly available. The plan outlines actions USDA will take to advance programmatic equity to improve access to programs and services for underserved stakeholders and communities. All too often in the past, USDA programs and services were designed to benefit those with land, experience, money, and education while …
Beef, Pork and Poultry Production and Price Forecasts for April
Slight gains in both beef production and price forecasts are noted in the latest USDA outlook. But according to a story from Rod Bain, the latest pork production and price forecasts reveal tighter supplies and a price adjustment for hogs. World Agricultural Outlook Board Chair Mark Jekanowski also goes over USDA’s April outlook for broiler and turkey production and prices. …
Avian Influenza Cases Outpacing 2014-2015 Outbreak
The number of highly pathogenic avian influenza cases in the U.S. are outpacing the 2014/2015 outbreak. However, the American Farm Bureau Federation says the higher numbers might be attributed to improvements in detection and reporting protocols. Farm Bureau economists found as of April 7, there have been more than 600 detections of HPAI in wild birds across 31 states, and …
Controlling the Spread of Avian Influenza
Even as detections of high path avian influenza are continuing, there are at least a few encouraging signs. Gary Crawford reports that experts say the one key to controlling the spread of it is fast reaction to reported detections. It’s been noted this virus is prevalent in wild birds, and thus bio-security is important in keeping high path avian influenza …
Programs Announced by USDA to Increase and Expand Meat and Poultry Processing Capacity
Technical Assistance Now Available to Processors; $23.6 Million Available for Meat, Poultry Readiness Grant program (USDA/WASHINGTON, March 25, 2022)Â — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the launch of the Meat and Poultry Processing Capacity Technical Assistance Program (MPPTA) to provide technical assistance to meat and poultry grant applicants and grant-funded projects. Processors and applicants involved with the Meat and …