Beef and Pork Export Values Expected to Soften in 2019

The tit-for-tat trade war with China means a lower forecast for the value of U.S. beef and pork exports next year. The Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service said in its latest quarterly Situation and Outlook Report released this week that forecasts total exports of beef, pork, dairy, poultry and other livestock products combined are expected to decline $300 million …

Florida-Grown Foods Part of Rich Tailgating Tradition

Set up the grill; it’s tailgating season. Chicken, burgers, corn, slaw, potato salad, chips – and maybe some fresh fruits and vegetables — are just some staples for the weekly ritual that coincides with football season. Some will win before the games start by eating Florida-grown foods. College football enthusiasts nationwide can take comfort in tips from University of Florida …

Memphis Meats, NAMI Want Joint Regulation of Cell-Based Meat

The North American Meat Institute (NAMI) joined up with Memphis Meats, a San Francisco-based company that’s developing cell-based meat to send a letter to the Trump Administration. The Hagstrom Report says they’re asking that the Food and Drug Administration and the Ag Department’s Food Safety and Inspection Service share regulatory responsibilities for cell-based meat. The letter says in the case …

Poultry Facilities Recognized for Safety Performance

Source: National Chicken Council Continuous Improvement Evident During the 2018 National Safety Conference for the Poultry Industry in Destin, Fla., 191 chicken and turkey facilities received safety awards by the Joint Industry Safety and Health Council. The companies were honored in recognition of their outstanding performance through the implementation of innovative and effective employee safety and health programs. “Our industry …

APHIS Finalizes Conditions for Paying Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Indemnity

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is issuing a final rule outlining the conditions under which USDA will pay indemnity to farms affected by highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). It includes updates to USDA’s February 2016 interim rule.  This final rule does three things: Allows indemnity payments to be split between poultry and egg …

USDA Looking To Get Rid of Outdated Meat Inspection Regulations

USDA is searching out and looking to eliminate redundant and outdated meat inspection regulations. Gary Crawford has the story. USDA Looking To Get Rid of Outdated Meat Inspection Regulations-1 Administrator of USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service, Carmen Rottenberg, talks about one of the reasons why USDA is looking to find and eliminate outdated or redundant regulations. USDA Looking To …

U.S. Poultry Gains New Market Access in Morocco

U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced today that the government of Morocco has agreed to allow commercial imports of U.S. poultry meat and products into Morocco for the first time. “The Trump Administration continues to prioritize the opening of new markets for U.S. agricultural products.  This new access to the Moroccan market is …

Clay County Young Farm Family Named Best in Alabama

Chris and Jordyn Upchurch of Clay County reaped the rewards of hard work and first-rate farming when they were named Alabama’s 2018 Outstanding Young Farm Family (OYFF) Aug. 4. The multi-generation farmers were honored at the Alabama Farmers Federation’s 46th Commodity Producers Conference in Montgomery and will receive over $70,000 in prizes. Their Rockin U farm in Lineville encompasses over …