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 …
U.S. Suppliers Meet with Latin American Red Meat Buyers
Red meat buyers from Central and South America and the Caribbean recently met with U.S. suppliers in Cartagena, Colombia, during the 11th edition of the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) Latin American Product Showcase. With 70 U.S. exporting companies exhibiting at the showcase, 220 importers had the opportunity to meet U.S. suppliers and arrange purchases of a wide range of U.S. red …
ALB Survey Needs Producer Input
The American Lamb Board (ALB) is seeking the help of American lamb producers and feeders on their environmental stewardship and other sustainability practices to better inform consumers and direct checkoff programs. Producers can help by completing ALB’s Sustainability Survey, which is open through Aug. 14. “It’s so important to have solid data that actually represents what our diverse American lamb industry does, the …
Manure Recycling on the Farm
It’s another type of recycling on the farm. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Farmers who utilize manure as a fertilizer mostly get the aromatic livestock byproduct from their own operations. New data from USDA’s Economic Research Service shows most manure applied to U.S. cropland, 78 percent, comes from animals raised on the same operation. Meanwhile, 14 percent …
ASI Applauds Support for Checkoffs
The American Sheep Industry Association (ASI) welcomed last week’s news that Rep. Barry Moore of Alabama introduced a resolution in support of checkoff funds, such as the American Lamb Board. “Checkoff programs have made significant, measurable strides in raising the level of demand and awareness for our farmers, ranchers and foresters’ products,” said Moore. “This resolution expresses congressional support for checkoffs due …
May Pork Exports Highest in Two Years; Beef Exports Below Year-Ago Totals
Led by another outstanding month in Mexico, exports of U.S. pork continued to gain momentum in May, according to new data released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF). As for beef exports for that same month, while well below the record-large volume and value posted in May 2022, they improved from April …