The U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance® (USFRA®) welcomed new board members this week representing the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council and Nebraska Soybean Association. NCBA vice president Jennifer Houston of Tennessee, Rochelle Krusemark from Trimont, Minn., and Anne Meis of Elgin, Nebraska join USFRA’s 17-member Board of Directors and more than 100 affiliates and industry … Read More
GIPSA Delays Effective Date of Interim Final
The USDA’s Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) announced that it is delaying the effective date of the Scope of Sections 202 (a) and (b) of the Packers and Stockyards Act Interim Final Rule until October 19, 2017. They also announced they are asking the public to comment on four possible actions USDA should take in regards to the … Read More
USDA Taking Nominations for American Lamb Board
The USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service is seeking nominations for positions on the 2018 American Lamb Board. There are five vacancies for the 2018 Board. The vacancies include one position for a producer with less than 100 lambs, one position for a producer with more than 500 lambs, one feeder position with less than 5,000 lambs, one first handler position, and … Read More
Strong Pace Continued for U.S. Meat Exports
Statistics released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) show February results for U.S. pork and beef exports well above levels from this time last year, with pork exports posting the strongest February volume on record. Pork exports were up 15 percent year-over-year, with value up 17 percent. February exports accounted for 27.6 percent of total … Read More
March Dairy Market Report
The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) and Dairy Management Inc.’s March Dairy Market Report is now out. In January, the average U.S. all-milk price reached its highest level since the final month of the 2013-2014 price spike. At $10.54 per hundredweight, the Margin Protection Program (MPP) margin for November–December was the highest in two years. Also in January, dairy exports … Read More
Roberts Urges Trump to Prioritize U.S. Beef Access to China
U.S. Senator Pat Roberts, R-Kan., Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, joined a bipartisan group of 39 Senators led by Senator Steve Daines, R-Mont., in sending a letter urging President Trump to raise the critical issue of U.S. beef access to Chinese markets when he meets with Chinese President Xi Jinping on today. China has recently … Read More
Wisconsin Dairy Farms Hit By Canada’s Trade Actions
Over 70 Wisconsin dairy operations are already feeling the blow from a protectionist Canadian trade policy that has slammed the door on American dairy exports, violated existing trade commitments, and left farmers across the state scrambling to find milk buyers. Grassland Dairy Products Inc. informed over 70 operations this week that their contracts with the company will end May 1st, … Read More
Place Yourself at the Table – The Future of Protein
Future Food-Tech took place in San Francisco last week and brought together over 300 food business technology leaders, investors and food-tech innovators. Brad Greenway, Chairman, U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance (USFRA) sat on a panel titled, “Creating Consumer Demand for Healthier and More Sustainable Ingredients.” As the sole panelist who represented the animal agriculture community, Brad was able to share … Read More
USDA Authorizes Emergency CRP Grazing After Wildfires
The USDA, acting in response to a directive from President Donald J. Trump, has authorized emergency grazing on Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) lands located in Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas who were most heavily impacted by wildfires in March. USDA Acting Deputy Secretary Michael L. Young issued a memorandum authorizing the emergency grazing of cattle by ranchers, who are facing the … Read More
Protein Snacks Could Lead to Improved Behavior
Could protein-based snacks such as hard-boiled eggs lead to improved classroom behavior? According to the American Egg Board, that could be the case. Jennifer Best, Extension Educator at Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, worked closely with school staff to test that theory on a small scale. Together they developed and launched a pilot project during the 2015-2016 school year … Read More