Plan to Use Farm Bill Funding to Support Animal Disease Prevention and Management

(USDA/APHIS) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is announcing initial plans to carry out new animal health activities using resources provided by the 2018 Farm Bill. Section 12101 of the 2018 Farm Bill established a three-part program to comprehensively support animal disease prevention and management. The bill included funding to create two …

Decline in Ground Seasoned Pork Exports to Japan

After trending lower through the first four months the year, pork exports to Japan in the month of May increased 5% from a year ago. But, there has been a decline in ground seasoned pork exports. Joe Schuele with the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) has a story explaining why. Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Encourages Research into Producers QuestionsJune …

Pork Industry Battling Challenges From Trade to Labor Shortage

WASHINGTON, D.C. (NPPC) – The U.S. pork industry faces numerous challenges both at home and abroad that, if not addressed, will pose significant harm to our farms, rural communities and ultimately consumers, National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) President David Herring, a pork producer from Lillington, N.C., testified before the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Livestock and Foreign Agriculture. “One of the …

Pork and Beef Exports Rebound in May

(NAFB) — May exports of U.S. pork and beef were steady with last year’s strong volumes and increased year-over-year in value. The U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) says pork exports totaled 218,000 metric tons in May, steady with last year’s pace, while value increased one percent to $567 million, the highest monthly value total since April 2018. For January through …

VSV Cases Reported in the U.S.

Last week, Colorado joined New Mexico and Texas as states affected by the vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) infection after two horses displaying signs of the virus were tested and confirmed positive by the National Veterinary Services Laboratories in Ames, Iowa. Previously, New Mexico had two VSV cases confirmed while Texas also had two cases confirmed. Colorado, New Mexico and Texas are the …

July 4th Cookouts Costing About the Same

(AFBF) — A cookout of Americans’ favorite foods for July 4th, including hot dogs, cheeseburgers, pork spare ribs, potato salad, baked beans, lemonade and watermelon, will cost just a few cents more this year, coming in at less than $6 per person, says the American Farm Bureau Federation. Farm Bureau’s informal survey reveals the average cost of a summer cookout …

ASF Claims More Territory in Asia

A Pork Checkoff news release says in just 30 days, the African Swine Fever (ASF) Virus is claiming more territory across all parts of Asia. Statistics from the Food and Agriculture Organization say that ASF is now in Cambodia, China, Laos, Mongolia, North Korea, and Vietnam. Experts predict its relentless march won’t stop there. The death loss continues to grow. …

NPPC Launches ‘Keep America First in Agriculture’ Campaign

WASHINGTON, D.C. (NPPC) – The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) launched “Keep America First in Agriculture,” a new campaign to highlight the importance of establishing a proper regulatory framework for gene editing in American livestock. Gene editing technology, which introduces useful genetic variation into food animal breeding programs, promises significant animal health benefits, including a natural immunity to disease and a reduction in the need for antibiotic use.  …