by Will Jordan and USMEF China’s General Administration of Customs recently approved 18 U.S. beef establishments and 12 U.S. pork establishments for export to China – the first new U.S. plants cleared for export to China in about 10 months. Erin Borror, U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) vice president for economic analysis, says the plant approval process was streamlined by …
Sustainability is Regular Business for Cattlemen
By Will Jordan Sustainability is a constant topic in conversations with both advocates and activists. National Cattlemen’s Beef Association CEO, Colin Woodall, shares thoughts on sustainability and the beef industry.
AgNet Weekly: Representative Kat Cammack
Representative Kat Cammack (R-FL-03) joins host Sabrina Halvorson this week for a discussion on protecting seasonal and perishable produce growers in trade deals, controlling government regulations with the REINS Act, WOTUS, and more. Each week we highlight essential legislative and policy conversations affecting agriculture nationwide. Host Sabrina Halvorson is a 30-year media veteran known nationally for her award-winning, balanced, and …
AgNet Weekly: NCBA Opposition to PRIME Act
The PRIME Act has once again made its way into Congress. Current law exempts custom slaughter of animals from federal inspection regulations, only if the meat is for personal, household, guest, and employee use. So, to sell individual cuts of locally raised meats to consumers, farmers and ranchers must send their animals to a USDA-inspected slaughterhouse. Proponents of the bill …
April Red Meat Exports Weather Production Challenges, Economic Headwinds
April proved to be a solid month for U.S. beef and pork exports despite COVID-19 related interruptions in production and trade. U.S. Meat Export Federation President and CEO Dan Halstrom says, “despite these significant headwinds, global demand for U.S. beef and pork remained strong.” Beef exports were below last April’s large totals but still topped $600 million in value. Pork …
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 …
Majority of U.S. Pastures are Lush and Green
Right now, more than 20-percent of the country is reporting a topsoil moisture surplus. And according to USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey, most of the pastures across the county are benefiting from excessive wetness. Rippey has details on which states have surpluses or shortages of topsoil moisture.
What’s at Stake for U.S. Beef in China
Earlier this week President Trump said he would meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping in June. The announcement comes as the trade war between the two largest economies in the world grows even more intense. National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) Senior Director of International Trade and Market Access, Kent Bacus, discusses what’s at stake for U.S. beef producers and how close we …
Promising Outlook for Meat and Dairy Producers
USDA’s first forecasts for the 2020 marketing year reveals increases in both production and price for meat and dairy producers. Rod Bain reports.
Cattle Industry’s Beef Quality Assurance Program Develops, Distributes Extensive National Manual
Checkoff-Funded Effort Is a Resource for Responsible Cattle Management An official manual for the Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) program that is both detailed and extensive is now being distributed nationwide throughout the cattle industry. The manual and the BQA program are both managed by the producer education team at the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, a contractor to the Beef Checkoff. …