Beginning in January, representatives of the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will visit dairy farms across the nation, as the agency begins collecting data for the final phase of the 2016 Agricultural Resource Management Survey (ARMS). ARMS targets select commodities on a rotational basis. This year, the survey places additional focus on corn, and conventional and organic dairy sectors. … Read More
Animal Ag Reacts To GIPSA Proposal
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
Proposed Fact Panel Revisions for Meat & Poultry
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has proposed updated nutritional information for meat and poultry products. FSIS is proposing to amend the nutrition labeling regulations for meat and poultry products to parallel the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) final nutrition regulations, which were published on May 27, 2016. The proposed rule will improve … Read More
USDA Hosting LMR Stakeholder Meetings
In an effort to receive feedback regarding current livestock and meat marketing methods and the Livestock Mandatory Reporting (LMR) program, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) will host a series of stakeholder meetings that begin next week. The meetings will serve as part of a Congress-assigned study regarding the marketing of livestock and meat products covered by … Read More
USDA’s Vet Medicine Loan Repayment Program
The USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) awarded more than $4.3 million to 48 American veterinarians to help repay a portion of their veterinary school loans in return for serving in areas lacking sufficient veterinary resources. The awards, made through NIFA’s Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program (VMLRP), will fill shortage needs in 27 states. “Veterinarians play a critical … Read More
USDA to Purchase Surplus Cheese
Following a roundtable discussion with dairy producers near La Crosse, Wisc. today, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced USDA is offering to purchase $20 million of cheddar cheese to reduce a private cheese surplus that has reached record levels, while assisting food banks and other food assistance recipients. While USDA projects dairy prices to increase throughout the rest of the year, … Read More
USDA-GIPSA Issues Approval for 3 Minute Aflatoxin Test
USDA’s Grain Inspection, Packers & Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) has officially approved Charm Sciences, Inc.’s ROSA® WET®-S3 Aflatoxin Quantitative Test (AFQ-WETS3) for testing of aflatoxin in the U.S. national grain inspection system. An official Certificate of Conformance from USDA/GIPSA declares that the test kit meets the accuracy specifications for 5 to 300 ppb aflatoxin in corn. The Charm ROSA AFQ-WETS3 test … Read More
New USDA App Protects Cattle from Heat Stress
USDA’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) has launched a new smartphone app forecasting conditions triggering heat stress in cattle and offered on both Google Play and the App Store. The app issues forecasts one to seven days in advance of extreme heat conditions, along with recommended actions that can protect animals before and during a heat-stress event. In some cattle, distress … Read More
USDA to Enhance Pork Cutout
According to the National Pork Producers Council, the USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is planning to enhance the pork cutout by placing additional product into the ham primal. The pork carcass cutout is an estimated value for a hog carcass based on current wholesale prices paid for sub-primal pork cuts. By adding individual muscles (insides, outsides and knuckles) to the … Read More
Vilsack on Latest Quarterly Export Forecasts
USDA Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack issued the following statement on the first forecast for U.S. agricultural exports for fiscal year 2017 and a revised forecast for fiscal year 2016. Both forecasts indicate U.S. agricultural exports have begun to rally and will continue the record-setting pace that began in 2009. “These numbers once again demonstrate the resiliency and reliability of U.S. … Read More