The U.S. Department of Agriculture released a final rule for the Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) yesterday. USDA refers to the rule as common sense protections to restore fairness and reduce the burden for farmers seeking justice under the Packers and Stockyards Act. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack made the announcement joined by National Farmers Union president Roger Johnson … Read More
Farm Bureau Fall Harvest Marketbasket Survey
The American Farm Bureau Federation’s (AFBF) Fall Harvest Marketbasket Survey indicates lower retail prices for several foods, including eggs, whole milk, cheddar cheese, chicken breast, sirloin tip roast and ground chuck. The informal survey shows the total cost of 16 food items that can be used to prepare one or more meals was $49.70, down $4.40 or 8 percent compared … Read More
NPPC, Farm Bureau Win FOIA Case Against EPA
A federal appeals court overruled a lower court decision to throw out a lawsuit brought by the National Pork Producers Council and the American Farm Bureau Federation against the EPA over its release to environmental groups of personal information on tens of thousands of farmers. In late 2015, a U.S. district court dismissed the NPPC-Farm Bureau suit for lack of … Read More
Farm Bureau Seeks Block to Overreach on Sage Grouse
The American Farm Bureau Federation and Utah Farm Bureau Federation have asked a federal district court in Utah to overturn a host of illegal land-use restrictions hampering ranchers in the western states. The groups made the request as part of a motion to intervene on the side of the State of Utah in a lawsuit against the federal government. The … Read More
4th Of July Cookout Costs Still Under $6/Person
An informal survey from the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) dug into the cost of summer cookout season. The survey looked into the cost of Americans’ favorite foods for the Fourth of July, including hot dogs, cheeseburgers, pork spare ribs, potato salad, baked beans, lemonade and chocolate milk, and found that, while the food products will cost slightly more this … Read More
Several Grocery Prices Down in Marketbasket Survey
According to USDA, Americans spend just under 10 percent of their disposable annual income on food, the lowest average of any country in the world, and the American Farm Bureau Federation’s (AFBF) Spring Picnic Marketbasket Survey highlighted a slight decrease in the current retail prices of several popular foods, including salad, orange juice, shredded cheddar, ground chuck, sirloin tip roast, … Read More
Iowa Farm Bureau Releases Antibiotic Report
A new report by the Iowa Farm Bureau Spokesman, “Antibiotic Stewardship on the Farm,” takes a detailed look at what the new protocols mean for consumers and farmers and how Iowa livestock farmers continue to improve practices on the farm. “Although research has never established a direct link between the use of medically important antibiotics used in raising food animals … Read More
Cattle Industry Fighting BLM Land Use Plans
An amicus brief was filed on Tuesday by The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), the Public Lands Council (PLC), along with support from the Idaho Cattle Association, the American Farm Bureau, and the Idaho Farm Bureau regarding restrictive land management plans from theBureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service. The land management plans, specifically the sub-regional Greater Sage … Read More
USDA & AFBF Talk TPP
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall got together to discuss the benefit of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) for agriculture as AFBF released an economic analysis of the pending trade agreement. “Until today, we didn’t have a specific documented review or study of that benefit,” said Vilsack, said in thanking Farm Bureau for doing the … Read More
Lower Costs Expected for Livestock & Poultry
Dr. Steve Meyer, Vice President of Pork Analysis for EMI Analytics said lower costs and higher production are on the horizon for the livestock and poultry sectors while addressing farmers and ranchers from across the country at the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 97th Annual Convention & IDEAg Trade Show. “We have seen fundamental changes on the perception of animal fats, … Read More