Meat Institute: USDA Continues to Over-Regulate Beef and Cattle Market

Following the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) requests for more information on possible new rules under the Packers and Stockyards Act on price discovery in cattle markets, Meat Institute President and CEO Julie Anna Potts today made the following statement:

“Biden’s USDA is once again attempting to assert government control over the free market to the detriment of cattle producers, packers and consumers,” said Potts. “This is not about transparency. This is about the government dictating how cattle may be bought and sold...

NCBA Shares Hurricane Helene Disaster Resources

Today, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) shared updated information about disaster relief programs available to cattle producers impacted by Hurricane Helene and opportunities to support disaster recovery through NCBA state affiliates.

“The cattle industry is a family and together we will recover from the devastation brought by Hurricane Helene,” said NCBA President Mark Eisele. “I encourage you to utilize the relief programs available through USDA and contact NCBA if you encounter any challenges or need assistance.”

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has extended flexibilities and waivers to disaster...

ANALYSIS: Mexico’s Livestock Trade Deficit Persists Amid Volatile USD:MXD

The Grupo Consultor de Mercados Agrícolas (GCMA) reported that Mexico's livestock trade balance remains in deficit, driven by increasing domestic prices that spurred record beef and pork imports. Between January and July 2024, meat imports totaled 1.67 million tonnes, a 6.3% increase from the same period in 2023.

Homero García de la Llata, president of Mexicos National Confederation of Livestock Organizations (CNOG), pointed out that several problems and weaknesses are affecting livestock farming in Mexico. These include low productivity, limited financing, and a lack of innovation and technology....

USDA Releases Updated Guideline to Strengthen Substantiation 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced today the availability of an updated guideline that makes recommendations to strengthen the documentation that supports animal-raising or environment-related claims on meat or poultry product labeling. Today’s action builds on the significant work USDA has already undertaken to protect consumers from false and misleading labels and to implement President Biden’s Executive Order on Promoting Competition in the American economy.

“USDA continues to deliver on its commitment to fairness and choice for both farmers and consumers, and that means supporting transparency and high-quality standards...

North American Cattle Industry Leaders Meet to Discuss Common Challenges Facing Producers 

The Canadian Cattle Association (CCA) hosted the 3rd 2024 triannual, trilateral meeting with its North American counterparts, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) and Confederación Nacional de Organizaciones Ganaderas (CNOG) on the sidelines of the Canadian Beef Industry Conference this week. The trilateral meeting gives an opportunity for leadership to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing beef producers across Canada, the United States and Mexico. Topics at this year’s trilateral focused on trade policy, the upcoming review of the Canada-United...

ARS Scientists Discover Strategically Applied Livestock Grazing Can Benefit Sagebrush Communities

While a cow grazing in a field isn’t typically remarkable, United States Department of Agriculture scientists have identified potential ecological benefits of strategically applied livestock grazing in sagebrush communities across U.S. western rangelands.

As recently published in the scientific journal Ecosphere, the collaborative research effort among Agricultural Research Service (ARS) rangeland scientists at Burns, Oregon, and Fort Collins, Colorado, challenged the outdated dogma that livestock grazing in the sagebrush steppe always negatively impacts these ecosystems and, in fact, can convey desirable outcomes, particularly in regard to limiting both wildfire...

AFBF Appreciates Packers and Stockyards Act Updates

American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall commented today on USDA’s release of the Fair and Competitive Livestock and Poultry Markets proposed rule, intended to improve fairness and competition in the livestock, meat and poultry sectors. This is the fourth rule issued by USDA to address fairness and competitiveness in livestock markets under the Packers and Stockyards Act.

“We appreciate USDA’s ongoing work to bring fairness to the marketplace for America’s farmers and ranchers. The proposed rule may impact growers differently depending on their business structure...

Proposed Changes to Packers & Stockyards Act Rules Will Hurt Meat and Poultry Producers, Consumers

Will Set Meat Quality & Consumer Demand Back Decades

The latest proposed rule change to the Packers and Stockyards Act by the Biden Administration is attempting to set meat production back decades by encouraging litigation and limiting how livestock producers can market their animals to packers.

In the proposed rule, USDA attempts to circumvent Congress and the courts to reverse the longstanding legal standard that parties must demonstrate harm to competition to sue and win under the Packers and Stockyards Act Section 202(a) or (b)...

China Welcomes US Dairy Firms Expanding in the Country, Vice Minister says

China welcomes dairy companies from all countries, including the U.S., to expand their business in the Chinese market, Vice Minister of Commerce Wang Shouwen said on Tuesday.

Wang made the remarks when meeting with U.S. Dairy Export Council President Krysta Harden, the ministry said in a statement.

The visit came days after the ministry said China may impose provisional anti-dumping measures on pork imports from the European Union as part of a year-long probe that began on June 17...

Farmers to Get Subsidised Egg-Laying Hens

Egg-laying hens will continue to be provided to farmers at a subsidised rate under the Rawalpindi Poultry Research Institute programme as per the directions of the provincial Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Dairy Development.

During his visit to the Institute, Minister Syed Ashiq Hussain Kirmani stated, "We are committed to supporting our farmers and promoting the poultry industry in the province.

Resuming this programme will help reduce the cost of production for farmers and increase egg production, making eggs more affordable for consumers."...

MDARD: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Detected in Three New Dairy Herds

Today, Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) Director Tim Boring announced the detection of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in additional dairy herds from Clinton, Gratiot, and Ionia counties. Testing through the Michigan State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory detected this case. Samples have been sent to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Veterinary Services Laboratories for additional confirmatory testing.

Regardless of species, biosecurity remains the best tool available to combat HPAI. On May 1, 2024, Director Boring issued the Determination of Extraordinary Emergency HPAI Risk Reduction...

DOA: Australian Government Phase Out of Live Sheep Exports by Sea

Decision on how and when

The Australian Government has announced the export of live sheep by sea will end on 1 May 2028.

Legislation will be introduced in this term of the Australian Parliament to end the trade in law.

Trade can continue until the end date without any additional restrictions such as caps or quotas. The prohibition will not apply to other livestock export industries, such as live cattle exports, nor will it apply to live sheep exports by air...

USDA Issues FAQ on Federal Order Requiring Bird Flu Testing in Dairy Cattle

On Wednesday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced a Federal Order requiring mandatory testing of lactating dairy cattle for bird flu before interstate movement. Effective Monday, April 29, 2024, the order also mandates reporting positive influenza A test results in livestock to USDA’s Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). 

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) causes less severe illness in cattle than in poultry, in which the virus is typically fatal, but remains a concern for livestock and humans who come into contact with infected animals...

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

• Prior to interstate movement, dairy cattle are required to receive...