- There were 93.6 million head of cattle and calves on U.S. farms as of Jan. 1, 2021, according to the Cattle report published by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). The Cattle report and all other NASS reports are available online at nass.usda.gov/Publications.
- Cargill announced the expansion of its value-added protein footprint through the acquisition of ProPortion Foods, a food manufacturer that supplies a variety of innovative fully cooked products, portion control steaks and marinated ready-to-grill meats. Through the purchase, which closed in December 2020, Cargill gains two further-processed protein plants in Round Rock, Texas and Vernon, California.
- The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) hailed the introduction of bipartisan legislation to create new opportunities for cattle producers and processors to market beef products. Introduced by U.S. Representatives Dusty Johnson (R – At-Large, S.D.) and Henry Cuellar (D – 28th Dist., TX), the Direct Interstate Retail Exemption for Certain Transactions (DIRECT) Act of 2021 would allow retail quantities of meat processed under state-inspection to be sold across state lines through e-commerce, providing beef producers and local processors alike with more options to market direct-to-consumers.
- Homestead Dairy of Plymouth, Ind. was recognized as the 2021 Innovative Dairy Farmer of the Year at the International Dairy Foods Association’s (IDFA) Dairy Forum. The award is presented each year by IDFA and Dairy Herd Management magazine. Homestead Dairy is one of the largest robotic farms in North America and has been a family owned and operated dairy for more than 75 years in the state of Indiana. Brian and Jill Houin and their 14 family members have created a blueprint for how to operate a large dairy with a focus on animal health, sustainability and efficiency.
- The Poultry Health Management School is going virtual for its 20th anniversary. During the May 24-25 school, participants will learn about poultry housing and management – this year’s theme for the school. Registration for students begins February 1 at 10 a.m. CST at PoultryHealthSchool.com.
- In January 2021, the FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine, as well as the Veterinary Drugs Directorate of Health Canada, added Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae to the approved label indications for Aivlosin® (tylvalosin) Water Soluble Granules (WSG). Complete label information is available at pharmgate.com.
