Canada and Mexico on COOL Retaliation

With the World Trade Organization Wednesday to hear formal requests from Mexico and Canada to retaliate against the United States over Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) for meat products, a Global Business Dialogue panel at the National Press Club Tuesday was very timely. The panel, which was sponsored by the National Pork Producers Council, featured representatives from both countries discussing …

House Votes to Repeal COOL for Meat

By a vote of 300 to 131, the House of Representatives passed legislation late Wednesday to repeal Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) for beef, pork and chicken. “I am thankful for the support of my colleagues today in passing this common-sense, bipartisan bill that is a necessary targeted response to avoid retaliation from Canada and Mexico,” said House Agriculture Committee …

New Food Bio Security Facility Groundbreaking

This week Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson and Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack helped to break ground on the National Bio and Agro Defense Facility (NBAF) in Manhattan, Kansas. Secretaries Johnson and Vilsack were joined by a number of dignitaries on Wednesday to celebrate the groundbreaking, including Kansas Governor Sam Brownback, Sens. Pat Roberts and Jerry Moran of Kansas, …

COOL Ruling Reactions

The World Trade Organization this week issued its fourth and final ruling against the United States over Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) for livestock and meat products. The final ruling maintained previous conclusions that “the amended COOL measure increases the record-keeping burden for imported livestock entailed by the original COOL measure.” Asked for his reaction, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says …

2015 International Production and Processing Expo

The 2015 International Production and Processing Expo (IPPE) was held January 27-29 in Atlanta, GA and is home for the International Poultry Expo, International Feed Expo and the International Meat Expo. Photos from the event can be found here: 2015 International Production and Processing Expo Photos Novus Strives for Solutions, Service & Sustainability – Poultry Industry Supports TPA – Sustainable …

Missouri Beef Industry Summit

Missouri Governor Jay Nixon convened a summit on Monday to discuss opportunities to maximize the potential of Missouri’s beef cattle industry. Topics at the Summit included the feasibility of building and operating a large-scale packing plant in Missouri and expanding the number of in-state feeding facilities which could allow Missouri to gain about $1.7 billion a year in revenue.

NCBA Concerns About Beef Checkoff

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack met earlier this week with the Beef Checkoff working group and reportedly told them he’s planning on implementing a new checkoff program for the industry by January, 2016. Speaking were NCBA president Bob McCan, NCBA immediate past president Scott George, and NCBA CEO Forrest Roberts.

Hereford Genetic Summit

Missouri State University’s Darr Agricultural Center served as home for the American Hereford Association’s Hereford Genetic Summit. Hereford breeders from across the country gathered to talk about what tomorrow’s consumers want, how the economic drivers of the beef industry come into play for breeders, what genetics commercial producers are seeking and responsibilities of seedstock producers. Hereford Summit Photo Album. Using …

Ditch the Rule at Missouri State Fair

Agriculture’s “Ditch the Rule” campaign against the Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule was highlighted at the Missouri State Fair this week. Three Republican members of Missouri’s congressional delegation held a press conference at the fair, organized by the the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), Missouri Cattlemen’s Association and Missouri Farm Bureau. Senator Roy Blunt …

Cow That Stole Christmas 10 Years Later

On December 23, 2003, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced the first known case of BSE (bovine spongiform encephalopathy) in the United States. It was in an adult Holstein cow in the state of Washington, which quickly became known as the “cow that stole Christmas.” In this interview, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) chief operating officer Kendal Frazier recalls how …

BIVI North Carolina Health Seminar

Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica (BIVI) held its annual North Carolina Health Seminar for swine producers in this important region August 16-18 at Wrightsville Beach. The event featured several speakers who addressed some of the significant issues addressed producers today. BIVI NC Swine Seminar Photo Album New executive director of the swine business for BIVI – PEDv Update for Swine Producers – …

Press Conf with World Livestock Auctioneer Champion

Dustin Focht, 2013 World Livestock Auctioneer Champion, participated in a conference call with the media today. The full press conference audio is available here to download, share and use however you would like. Dustin Focht is from Stillwater, Okla. The newly crowned champion competed against 30 other semi-finalists last Friday and Saturday to win the world title in Montgomery, Ala. …

2013 LMA Annual Mtg. & World Livestock Auctioneer Championship

The 2013 Livestock Marketing Association Annual Convention and 50th World Livestock Auctioneer Championship take place in Montgomery, AL. There will be interviews and other recorded remarks posted here as they become available so please check back. You can find and download full res photos from the event here: 2013 LMA/WLAC Photo Album

World Pork Expo 25th Anniversary

2013 marks the silver anniversary of World Pork Expo, the world’s largest pork-specific trade show, presented by the National Pork Producers Council. Audio and photos will be updated during the course of the event June 5-7 at Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines. 2013 World Pork Expo photo album. World Pork 25th Anniversary – National Pork Update – USDA AMS …

American Meat Institute Statement on COOL Decision

USDA has issued the final rule for mandatory Country of Origin Labeling (COOL), including an amendment to the regulations for muscle cut covered commodities derived from animals slaughtered in the United States. “It is incomprehensible that USDA would finalize a controversial rule that stands to harm American agriculture, when comments on the proposal made clear how deeply and negatively it …