USDA Completes Reform of Packers & Stockyards Rule

In one of his last official acts in the waning days of the Biden administration, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced the third installment in a series of regulatory reforms under the Packers and Stockyards Act. Along with other finalized updates, this completes a major regulatory reform intended to “level the playing field for farmers who raise chicken, turkeys, hogs, …

Revolutionary, Non-Invasive In-Ovo Sexing Technology Makes History as First in United States

Technology introduced to determine the sex of a chick in brown layer hatching eggs before hatching, a significant technological development for the U.S. egg industry WILTON, IA – In a groundbreaking development for the United States egg industry, an Iowa hatchery has become the first site to offer an automated in-ovo sex determining solution in the nation. An identical machine …

Georgia Agriculture Evaluating Helene Damage

Agricultural damage from Hurricane Helene is being evaluated this week around the southeast. At a press conference Sunday, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp said they expect the damage toll to be worse than Hurricane Michael in 2018. “We know we have 107 poultry facilities damaged or totally destroyed, 15 dairies that have been affected and dozens and dozens of other facilities,” …

USDA Awards More Processing Plant Grants

USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack announced Thursday more than $35 million in grants to 15 independent meat processors in 12 states to increase processing capacity, the final installment in the Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program (MPPEP) launched in 2022. Over $325 million total investment in 74 independent meat and poultry processing projects have been awarded. Joining Sec. Vilsack in making …

Lower Food and Fuel Cost Act Passes House

The U.S. House of Representatives Thursday passed the Lower Food and Fuel Costs Act, a diverse package of initiatives from meat packing plants to year round E15, despite opposition by the majority of Republicans. The final vote was 221-204, with seven Republicans siding with the majority and five Democrats voting against the bill. The act includes a package of ag-related …

ZEAKAL ANNOUNCES COLLABORATION WITH PERDUE AGRIBUSINESS

(SALISBURY, MD and SAN DIEGO, CA, May 10, 2022) – Illustrating a shared commitment to improve the value and sustainability of food production, Perdue AgriBusiness and ZeaKal announced a multi-year development agreement to raise more sustainable poultry through improved soy genetics and feed quality. ZeaKal’s PhotoSeed® trait technology increases photosynthetic capacity, converting more carbon dioxide and sunlight into energy for …

VERSOVA, NORTHWEST FARMS AND PROTERRA INVESTMENT PARTNERS UNITE TO ACQUIRE AND OPERATE WILLAMETTE EGG FARMS

New partnership reflects increasing demand for cage-free eggs, customer deadlines and recent state law changes on hen housing and egg production SIOUX CENTER, IA (December 3, 2021): Northwest Farms and Proterra Investment Partners (Proterra) has acquired the operations and assets of Willamette Egg Farms (Willamette) in the Pacific Northwest from Michael Foods, Inc., a subsidiary of Post Holdings. Northwest Farms …

White House Press Briefing on Meat Prices

September 8 White House press briefing with Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and National Economic Council Director Brian Deese on meat prices. Deese discusses how beef, pork, and poultry are the real drivers of increased grocery store bills, and that there’s an underlying corporate consolidation problem with meat-processing giants that needs to be addressed. Secretary Vilsack discusses actions the administration …

Sen. Thune on Aid for Agriculture and Biofuels in COVID Relief Bill

The new COVID relief package passed by Congress this week includes help for agricultural and biofuels producers excluded from previous aid legislation. Sen. John Thune (R-SD) says relief includes the Paycheck Protection Program for Producers Act, assistance for livestock and poultry producers who were forced to euthanize animals during the initial wave of the pandemic, and biofuels producers are now …

Alltech Global Feed Survey Results

Alltech President/CEO Dr. Mark Lyons shared the results of the company’s latest global feed survey during a livestream presentation on January 27. The 2020 Alltech Global Feed Survey estimates that international feed tonnage decreased by 1.07% to 1.126 billion metric tons of feed produced last year, due largely to African swine fever (ASF) and the decline of pig feed in …

The Incredibles 2 Makes Super Hero Eggs

The American Egg Board (AEB) cooked up an eggciting promotional sponsorship of Disney-Pixar’s “Incredibles 2” that has audiences scrambling for new “How Do You Like Your Eggs?” recipes reflecting each of the film’s character’s unique personality or super power. The film has made the Incredible Egg into a nutrition super hero! The AEB celebrated the June 15 movie premiere by …

SMART Farmer Lauren Arbogast

Lauren Arbogast is a city girl who married into the farm and found it so interesting that she started a blog about it. On her blog “Paint The Town Ag”, which has also become her Facebook and Twitter platform, Lauren shares photos of musings of life on the farm with her husband and two “mini farmer” sons. She became a …

National Thanksgiving Turkey Presented to POTUS

National Turkey Federation Chairman Carl Wittenburg presented the National Thanksgiving Turkey named “Drumstick” to President Trump. The turkeys were raised with the involvement of 4-H members from Douglas County, Minnesota: Kodi Bundermann, Kayla Egenes, Katie Kent, Christina Kuismi, and Kerryn Lund under the supervision of the Wittenburgs. The names for the birds were suggested by school children through the Minnesota …

2017 International Production & Processing Expo

Welcome to the virtual newsroom for the 2017 International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE), sponsored by Novus International . Formally known as the International Poultry Expo, the event has expanded in recent years to become the largest annual trade show for the poultry, meat and feed industries, with a focus on innovation, education, networking, and expanding the global reach of …

I AM USFRA Features Poultry & Eggs

The latest I Am USFRA features the poultry and eggs. The industry as been the target of  animal rights advocates and others who have tried to damage the image of their products in the eyes of consumers. That’s why the U.S. Poultry and Egg Association (USPOULTRY) was one of the founding organizations for the U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance (USFRA), …