President-elect Donald Trump’s nomination of Sonny Perdue as the next Secretary of Agriculture has been received a warm and positive response from the nation’s livestock industry groups. The veterinarian and former Georgia Governor has been praised for his political and agribusiness experience and his understanding of the nation’s diverse agriculture industry. “Governor Perdue has a strong record as two-term chief … Read More
Tom Vilsack to Take Helm of USDEC
The U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC) has announced that former U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will serve as the organizations new president and CEO starting Feb. 1, 2017. “Growing the global market for U.S. dairy products is essential to the future of the dairy industry and America’s dairy farmers. I’ve spent my career in public service as a … Read More
Iowa Food Banks Receive Massive Egg Donation
The Food Bank of Iowa is receiving a full truckload of eggs this week, thanks to a donation from the Iowa Egg Council and Fareway Stores, Inc. The donation is the result of a holiday season campaign and partnership between Fareway and the Iowa Egg Council. Throughout the campaign, which ran from December 19 through December 24, every purchase of … Read More
Supreme Court To Hear WOTUS Case
The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to consider whether jurisdiction rests with the federal district or appellate courts to hear a lawsuit brought by several agricultural organizations, businesses and municipalities against the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule, a Clean Water Act rule that would give the government broad jurisdiction over land and water. “The WOTUS rule is vague, … Read More
MO Cattlemen Receive Insight On Beef Market
The 49th Annual Missouri Cattle Industry Convention and Trade Show was held earlier this month, featuring eight educational sessions as part of the event’s Cattlemen’s College. The sessions allowed producers to learn more about topics like cattle markets, productions technologies, and managing risks. Ed Greiman, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) Cattle Marketing and International Trade Committee Chairman, led a Cattlemen’s … Read More
Ag Groups Request Protection of Nation’s Public Lands
The American Farm Bureau Federation spearheaded a coalition of 18 other groups with vital interests in protecting the multiple uses of the nation’s public lands, including the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) and American Sheep Industry (ASI), urging President-elect Donald Trump to work with Congress to pass legislation to improve accountability and transparency in the designation of national monuments. According … Read More
A Discussion on Responsible Antibiotic Use at #AFBF17
In a workshop at the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 2017 Annual Convention & IDEAg Trade Show, Dr. Jennifer Wishnie, a veterinary public health expert, spoke about one of the hottest topics in animal agriculture – antibiotic resistance. “Many consumers don’t realize that there is veterinary oversight on the farm,” said Dr. Wishnie. “This gives us opportunities to educate them on … Read More
A Livestock Market Outlook from #AFBF17
Dr. Karl Skold, head of agricultural economics at JBS, talked about the ample supplies of meat we will see in 2017 during a workshop at the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 2017 Annual Convention & IDEAg Trade Show. Skold said a historically unusual situation of expanding herds, growing supply and significant demand is driving an overall positive outlook for producers of … Read More
Dairy Groups: Canada’s Policies Will Hurt U.S. Economy
The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF), the U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC) and the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) told President-elect Donald Trump that Canada’s existing and protectionist policies are designed to block imports from the U.S. and are in direct violation of Canada’s trade commitments under the NAFTA and the … Read More
Examining Sustainability Factors in Chicken Production
The results of a study released by the National Chicken Council (NCC) have detailed several environmental, economic and sustainability implications of raising slower growing chickens. The results reveal a sharp increase in chicken prices and the use of environmental resources – including water, air, fuel and land. “The NCC and its members remain committed to chicken welfare, continuous improvement and … Read More