Animal Ag News 9/21

Carrie Muehling

  • The National Bison Association welcomed USDA’s announcement that bison producers are now eligible for relief under the second round of Coronavirus Food Assistance Program payments.
  • The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) released a statement in response to the United States Department of Agriculture’s announcement that additional support would be made available to cattle producers through the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program.
  • NCBA also released a statement to highlight federal programs that are available for cattle producers across the country who are being impacted by wildfires, hurricanes, drought, and other natural disasters. NCBA supports local assistance efforts that allow producers, communities, and the public to support affected producers.
  • For more than three decades cattle producers have been able to simplify their record keeping with a handy booklet from the NCBA. Soon the 2021 version of the Redbook will be ready to help cattle producers effectively and efficiently record their daily production efforts, which can help enhance their profitability and reduce their stress levels. Redbooks can be purchased after Oct. 5, 2020, for $7.00 each, plus shipping and handling. To order, visit store.ncba.org.
  • The U.S. Poultry & Egg Association has awarded the 2020 Clean Water Award to Tyson Foods in New Holland, Pennsylvania, and Tyson Foods in Robards, Kentucky. The award is presented annually to poultry facilities that go above and beyond in their commitment to sustainable wastewater treatment and water reuse.
  • The International Dairy Foods Association and Blimling and Associates are partnering to produce “The Dairy Download,” a new podcast for anyone who follows the twists and turns of the U.S. dairy industry.
  • The American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) is bringing a new, online program to the animal food industry, offering industry leaders the opportunity to learn about current market fluctuations taking place and their impact on future business. The new AFIA Digital Dialogues will specifically focus on the current issues affecting the liquid supplement, feed, ingredient and equipment manufacturing sectors.
  • The World Forage Analysis Superbowl will once again provide educational opportunities with its Dairy Forage Seminars, held virtually in 2020 on the new World Forage Analysis Superbowl YouTube channel.
  • Ag-tech company Consumer Physics is teaming up with Dairy Farmers of America, Vita Plus and Feed Supervisor to market its SCiO Cup – an instant, portable, lab-grade forage dry matter analyzer. The partnerships with three of the leading dairy industry players in the U.S. are expected to enable the company to reach the 75,000 American farmers with approximately 9 million milk producing cows.
  • R-CALF USA, through attorneys at Public Justice, has filed a new lawsuit over amendments the U.S. Department of Agriculture made to the operation of the federal Beef Checkoff program in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. The new lawsuit builds on R-CALF USA’s Montana litigation, which challenged the constitutionality of the use of Checkoff funds by private state beef councils to fund speech that is harmful to independent, domestic producers. That litigation is now on appeal to the Ninth Circuit, where R-CALF USA appeals the Montana District Court’s ruling that the U.S. Department of Agriculture had corrected its 35-year violation of the U.S. Constitution by entering memorandums of understanding with the 15 private state beef councils subject to R-CALF USA’s lawsuit.
  • September 26 and 27, alpaca business owners throughout North America will celebrate the 14th annual National Alpaca Farm Days. Alpaca Owners Association, Inc. invites you to visit participating member farms and ranches during this safe, fun-filled family event. Alpaca owners will welcome the public, while following state and local safety regulations, to meet their alpacas.
  • For years, beef and pork that was born, raised, and slaughtered in another country but processed in the United States has legally been labeled as a “Product of the U.S.A.,” a claim that misleads consumers and puts American ranchers at a disadvantage. National Farmers Union (NFU) has long advocated clear and accurate labeling, for the sake of farmers and consumers alike. As part of those efforts, the organization supports a rule proposed by the Federal Trade Commission that would strengthen voluntary U.S. origin claims on labels and penalize those who incorrectly label products. NFU President Rob Larew urged the FTC to swiftly finalize the rule and “vigorously enforce it.”
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