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USDA Actions to Protect Livestock Health From Highly Pathogenic H5N1 Avian Influenza
To further protect the U.S. livestock industry from the threat posed by highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza, USDA is sharing a number of actions that we are taking with our federal partners to help us get ahead of this disease and limit its spread.
Today, USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced a Federal Order requiring the following measures, effective Monday, April 29, 2024:
Mandatory Testing for Interstate Movement of Dairy Cattle
ADM Animal Nutrition Expands Recall to Include 17 Additional Lots of Chicken, Swine and Rabbit Feed
ADM Animal Nutrition, a division of ADM , is expanding the recall announced on March, 30, 2024, to include the following additional products due to elevated levels of magnesium, sodium, calcium and/or phosphorus: Pen Pals® Chicken Starter-Grower (Product Nos. 70009AAA46 and 70009AAA44); Pen Pals Egg Maker Complete (Product No. 70010AAAE4); MaxLean GF Concentrate (Product No. 12354AAA); ShowTec Sow Ration with Thermal Care (Product No. 12343AAA); ShowTec BB 18 BMD (Product No. 18241AGNE4); ShowTec BB 18 BMD/DBZ (Product No. 18241PLM)...
ADM Animal Nutrition Recalls Select Chicken, Swine, Cattle and Horse Feed Products
Specific lots may contain elevated levels of calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium and/or chloride and may harm chickens, swine, beef cattle and equine
ADM Animal Nutrition, a division of ADM, is recalling the following products:
Stevens County Goat Tests Positive for Same Influenza Virus Affecting Poultry
A Stevens County goat kid (juvenile goat) residing on a farm with a Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) positive poultry flock tested positive for the same virus. This is the first U.S. detection of HPAI in a domestic ruminant (cattle, sheep, goats, and their relatives). All poultry on the property were already quarantined from the February HPAI detection. Following the confirmation of HPAI in the goat, the Board quarantined all other species on the premises. The Board is working with the U.S. Department of Agriculture...
Cargill Launches REVEAL™ Layers, a First-Of-Its-Kind, Non-Invasive NIR Technology
As the poultry industry continues to explore ways to achieve gains in hen laying production, Cargill’s REVEAL™ Layers can help poultry layer producers get there. Using Cargill’s innovative, non-invasive Near InfraRed (NIR) technology, producers and nutritionists have immediate access to body composition assessments of their hens. This allows them to make real-time decisions regarding diets to support their flocks’ long-term production and performance.
It is believed that overdeveloped fat pads in laying hens are problematic for long-term egg production and optimal...
Major U.S. Winter Storm May Hinder Livestock Movement
Livestock producers and road crews are preparing for a major winter storm that will impact a significant portion of the country this week.
The Plains and Midwest, where the bulk of the nation's cattle and hog-producing regions are located, could experience heavy snowfall and blizzard conditions through Tuesday. Meanwhile, damaging winds and severe thunderstorms are expected for the deep South through the Northeast today into tomorrow, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).
Whiteout conditions due to heavy snowfall combined with severe wind gusts could...
CME Grain Futures Pressured by Improved Moisture in Brazil
CME soybean futures began the new year at multi-month lows, pressured by improved moisture in Brazil and extended forecasts for additional rainfall.
The March soybeans contract slipped to the lowest level since June 30 and ended with a 24 ½ cents decline at $12.73 per bushel.
Brazil is the world’s leading producer of soybeans, followed by the United States and Argentina. The planting season in Brazil occurs from October through December, with harvest taking place in March through May...
Farmers Concerned About Effects of California's New Animal Welfare Law
A new animal welfare law going into effect in California Jan. 1 that mandates space requirements for pigs, cows and chickens has some livestock farmers on edge.
Proposition 12 prohibits sales in California of pork, veal and eggs from livestock whose confinement doesn't meet certain minimum space rules. Those rules mandate hog pens to be large enough for an animal to turn around.
The U.S. Supreme Court upheld the law, ruling 5-4 that "while the Constitution addresses many weighty issues, the type of pork chops California merchants...
duBreton Farms are Now Certified by the California Animal Care Program (Prop12)
As a leader in animal welfare, duBreton is proud to announce that they are one of the first companies to be certified and ready for the implementation of California's Proposition 12 which restricts gestation crate usage and requires 24 square feet of space per sow.
"Today, we take another step forward, since we are not just compliant, but fully audited and ready for California's Proposition 12, which goes into effect on January 1st, 2024," declared Vincent Breton, CEO...
NCBA Secures Senate Introduction of Legislation to Protect Producers from Black Vultures
This week, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) hailed the introduction of the Senate version of the Black Vulture Relief Act introduced by Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), a companion bill to legislation introduced in the House of Representatives earlier this year that protects cattle producers from the devastating impacts of black vulture depredation.
“Black vultures are particularly nasty predators, and their attacks can be financially devastating to small, family-owned cattle operations,” said NCBA Policy Division Chair Gene Copenhaver, a Virginia cattle producer...
HPAI Detected in Commercial Flock; Caroline County, Maryland
One year since the state's last confirmed case, Maryland has reported another outbreak of the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) commonly known as the bird flu.According to the state's Department of Agriculture, the preliminary confirmation was as a result of an investigation of a broiler operation in Caroline County, just over 2 hours outside of Baltimore. Officials await for United States Department of Agriculture's National Veterinary Services Laboratory to confirm in the coming days.
State officials have quarentined all affected premises and birds of which will be depopulated to deminish...
Grain Oversupply and Lower Feed Prices Bolster Ukrainian Livestock Industry
As Ukraine keeps experiencing difficulties exporting grain, domestic feed prices have been following a downward trajectory for several months.
During the past three months, domestic feed prices in Ukraine have plummeted, commented Maxym Gopka, an analyst with Ukrainian Agribusiness Club UCAB. As a result, in the pig industry, feed now accounts for a 19% lower share in production costs than in June, while in the chicken industry, this figure has dropped by 17%. Cheap feed helps the Ukrainian livestock industry.
"Prices are quite low, and this helps the industry to...
Tyson and Protix Plan US Insect Protein Facility JV
Tyson Foods has entered a joint venture with Netherlands-based insect protein company Protix to build an insect ingredient facility in the continental United States.
The companies claim that upon completion, it will be the first at-scale facility of its kind to upcycle food manufacturing byproducts into insect proteins and lipids for use in the pet food, aquaculture, and livestock industries. The facility will include an enclosed system for breeding, incubating, and hatching of insect larvae. Protix currently produces and processes 14,000 tonnes LLE annually at its Netherlands facility...
Record Breaking Heat Across Central U.S. Poses Risks to Livestock, Crops
The extreme heat impacting a large portion of the country this week has posed significant challenges for producers and their livestock.
Highs into the upper 90s and low 100s are forecast for a broad region between the Midwest and central Gulf Coast today, according to the National Weather Service. Coupled with high humidity levels, heat indices could approach 120 degrees in some regions. While it's not unusual for August to experience heat, the current temperatures have shattered records.
Over 110 million people across 20 states are currently under heat...
Improved Rainfall Sends Soybean Futures to Multi-Week Lows
Widespread showers have largely benefitted corn and soybeans in the nation's key crop-producing regions, sending soybean futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange to multi-week lows on Monday.
November soybeans shed over 31 cents and fell to the lowest level since June 30, closing at $13.02 per bushel.
In the latest USDA Crop Progress report, good to excellent ratings for soybeans were reported at 54%, up 2% from the week prior. Soybeans blooming moved up to 90%, above past progress benchmarks...
Livestock Futures Swept Up in Broad Losses Following Fitch Downgrade
Earlier this week, Fitch Ratings downgraded the United States’ Long-Term Foreign-Currency Issuer Default Rating (IDR) to AA+ from AAA. This was the first time the U.S. received a downgrade from one of the three main rating agencies since 2011.
Fitch cited several drivers behind its decision, including “a steady deterioration in standards of governance over the last 20 years, including on fiscal and debt matters, notwithstanding the June bipartisan agreement to suspend the debt limit until January 2025.” The full report can be found here...
U.S. Beef Herd Declines for Fifth Straight Year
The semiannual USDA Cattle Inventory report, released Friday afternoon, indicated that all cattle and calves in the United States as of July 1 totaled 95.9 million head, down 2.7% from a year ago.
The average pre-report estimate in the Urner Barry survey was expecting a 2.3% decline to 96.3 million head.
The 2023 calf crop was estimated at a record low of 33.8 million head, down 2% from 2022. Total cows and heifers that have calved were reported at 38.8 million head, down 2% from 2022 and nearly on target with analysts' expectations...
Old Bulls Bring New Genetic Benefits To Light
Animal genetics plays a crucial role in modern agriculture, enhancing food sustainability, and animal adaptation to a changing climate. Over the years, animal breeders have underlined the significance of genetics in enhancing animal productivity. Preserving diverse sources of animal germplasm is crucial to maintaining genetic diversity, which provides economic sustainability and food security in the face of new diseases and climate change, and advances our knowledge of animal genetics and genomics.
USDA's Agricultural Research Service's National Animal Germplasm Program (NAGP) has collected and preserved more than one million samples from over...
Grain Markets Rebound from Weather-Related Sell-Off Late Last Week
The grain markets have whipsawed in recent days as traders monitor weather conditions in the Midwest and await the upcoming USDA acreage report. The annual report from the government indicates acreage by planted and/or harvested areas by state for various crops including corn, soybeans, and wheat.
Forecasts for much-needed rain in the Midwest contributed to a sell-off in corn and soybean futures late last week, with December corn plummeting by over 32 cents on Friday after climbing to a multi-month top...
USDA Issues Final Rule Regarding Preserving Trust Benefits Under the Packers and Stockyards Act
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) published a notice in the Federal Register on June 23, 2023, implementing revisions to regulations under the Packers and Stockyards Act (Act). These revisions implement the Livestock Dealer Statutory Trust, which provides financial protection for cash sellers of livestock. These updated regulations are part of USDA’s efforts to support transparency throughout the supply chain and ensure fair prices for farmers and livestock producers. The revisions go into effect on July 24, 2023.
Congress amended the Act providing for a statutory...
Hog Report Expected to Show 0.7% Decrease in Total Herd vs Year Prior
The USDA’s quarterly hogs and pigs report, scheduled for release Thursday afternoon, is expected to show a decrease in the U.S. swine herd versus June 2022.
Analysts on average predict the all hogs and pigs number as of June 1 to be down 0.7% from a year ago.
The average of the estimates for all hogs and pigs would project 72.016 million head, compared with 72.524 million a year ago.
The survey showed on average the number of females kept for breeding at 0.7% below a year ago...
ANALYSIS: Cash Cattle Market Kicks Off New Month With Fresh Record Highs
This week’s cash cattle trade started off with a bang on Thursday as prices advanced by as much as $9 per cwt from the week prior. Negotiated prices in the South reached $180 per cwt, a new high for the year as well as a record high level for the Texas/Oklahoma region.
In the North, live prices achieved $188 per cwt, also a fresh record high. Dressed sales climbed to $292.50 per cwt in Nebraska, approaching the all-time record of $298...
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