Certified organic livestock and poultry producers in the U.S. will soon have new production standards to follow. The USDA has unveiled new rules for organic livestock producers that establish clear, strong and consistent standards for organic livestock and poultry production. It levels the playing field for organic livestock farmers, ranchers and businesses and promotes fairer, more competitive markets for their products, …
Improvements in U.S. Pasture and Rangeland Conditions
Both ends of the nation’s pasture and rangeland condition ratings reveal year over year improvements within the final condition report for 2023. Rod Bain has the story. USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey looks at states with notable good to excellent pasture and rangeland conditions for the period ending this past week. Rippey also discusses regions of the country where there are …
USDA Conducting Sheep Study in 2024
USDA’s National Animal Health Monitoring System (NAHMS) conducts a national sheep study approximately every ten years, and will do so again next year. The Sheep 2024 Study will support industry groups and research efforts with new information on sheep health and management. The study consists of two phases and includes biological sampling and two questionnaires. A random selection of almost …
ALB Promotes Lamb at Consumer, Influencer Events
The latest consumer research funded by the American Lamb Board (ALB) indicate a majority of consumers associate lamb with flavor, tenderness, freshness and quality, but only 33 percent of consumers agree that lamb is a nutritious meat choice. So, building awareness about lamb’s nutrition benefits and positioning lamb as part of a healthful diet and lifestyle is an opportunity to …
New Checkoff Website for the Sheep Industry
America’s Lamb producers can now turn to LambBoard.com for resources on checkoff production, promotion, and other programs. The new American Lamb Board site officially launched on September 7. “This is a totally new site for America’s Lamb industry,” says Peter Camino, ALB Chair. “That includes commercial and seedstock producers, feeders, direct marketers, sale managers, auction markets, and processors.” He also …
ASI Investigates Trade Case against Lamb Imports
The American Sheep Industry Association (ASI) updated the status of a legal process initiated several months ago toward possibly filing a U.S. trade law violation by lamb importers. ASI Executive Director Peter Orwick offered an update as the association awaits the results of a preliminary investigation. “We are specifically looking for the estimate of trade case strength, which depends on …
Efforts Being Made to Address Rural Veterinary Shortages
Lawmakers have reintroduced the Rural Veterinary Workforce Act, formerly known as the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program Enhancement Act. Introduced in both the House and Senate, the legislation would expand its reach. The Program helps increase access to food animal veterinary services in rural areas by assisting with the significant obstacle of educational debt. The legislation would end the federal …
ASI Board Approves Budget
The American Sheep Industry Association (ASI) Board of Directors recently approved the association’s budgets and membership rates for fiscal year 2023-24. Voting was conducted online after preliminary approval of both the Wool Trust and Fund II budgets by the ASI Executive Board at its summer meeting in Idaho. Plus, ASI wants producers to know their 2024 Annual Convention will be held January …
ALB Market Report Notes Imports Are Down
The American Lamb Board’s (ALB) July market report is now available. The report indicates that both lamb imports and domestic production are down. The report notes lamb weights are lighter than a year ago, and fewer imported pounds have resulted in a lower supply of lamb in the domestic market. Federally inspected lamb and yearling slaughter for July is 4 percent lower …
Excellent First Half for U.S. Pork Exports; Beef Exports below Record Pace
According to new data released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF), U.S. pork exports concluded an excellent first half of 2023 with another strong performance in June. As for beef exports, while well below the record pace established in 2022, June exports topped $900 million in value, pushing first-half export value to …