Animal Ag Bites 4/23

Carrie Muehling

The Dairy Calf and Heifer Association (DCHA) is excited to announce, effective May 1, 2018 the association’s management will transition to Gardner & Gardner Communications of New Prague, Minn. The American Angus Association announces the hiring of New Jersey native Christopher Engel as the director of Angus Link, the new Association feeder cattle program, which is set to be unveiled …

AgWired Animal, Animal Bites

House Ag Committee Advances Agriculture and Nutrition Act

Cindy Zimmerman

The House Agriculture Committee voted along party lines Wednesday to pass the Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018 (H.R.2) out of committee, a new farm bill designed by Republicans to “address the economic challenges facing the nation’s farmers and ranchers, while making historic investments in opportunities for SNAP recipients.” All 20 Democrats on the historically-bipartisan committee voted against the legislation …

AgWired Animal, AgWired Precision, Audio, Farm Bill

Animal Ag Bites 4/16

Carrie Muehling

The U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Poultry & Eggs and the International Poultry Welfare Alliance are conducting a search for an executive director who can provide management duties and leadership for both organizations as they develop and progress. The groups, with the assistance of the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association, are working with executive search firm Kincannon & Reed to fill …

AgWired Animal, Animal Bites

Trump Discusses Agricultural Trade Issues

Cindy Zimmerman

Governors and senators from agricultural states such as Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, North and South Dakota had a meeting with President Donald Trump and U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer today to discuss recent trade actions and how farmers may be impacted. In a press availability prior to the start of the meeting, President Trump talked about NAFTA, China, the European Union, …

AgWired Animal, Audio, Trade

House Ag Committee Unveils Agriculture and Nutrition Act

Cindy Zimmerman

House Agriculture Committee Chairman Mike Conaway (R-TX) today introduced the first draft of a new farm bill, the Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018 (H.R. 2). ““The farm bill keeps faith with our nation’s farmers and ranchers through the current agriculture recession by providing certainty and helping producers manage the enormous risks that are inherent in agriculture,” said Rep. Conaway. …

AgWired Animal, AgWired Precision, Audio, Farm Bill

Animal Ag Bites 4/9

Carrie Muehling

The National Pork Producers Council offers two tour packages prior to World Pork Expo. On June 4-5, a two-day Midwest tour travels across Iowa, Illinois and northern Indiana, providing perspectives on pork production, feed processing, agricultural shipping and more. On June 5, a one-day tour focuses on Central Iowa agri-businesses and pork production. Registration is available online. Papillon Agricultural Company …

AgWired Animal, Animal Bites

China Adds Tariffs on Beef and Soybeans

Cindy Zimmerman

More U.S. agricultural products are on the second list of retaliatory tariffs from China, including both soybeans and beef, of 25 percent. Kent Bacus, Director of International Trade and Market Access for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), calls the action unsettling but not surprising. “This is a battle between two governments, and the unfortunate casualties will be America’s cattlemen …

AgWired Animal, ASA, Audio, Beef, Soybean, Trade

China Strikes Back

Cindy Zimmerman

From almonds to frozen edible swine offal, the majority of the 128 products on which China imposed retaliatory tariffs Monday are agricultural, making farmers bear the brunt of the reaction to U.S. steel and aluminum tariffs. “This is a tax on American farmers, brought about by protectionist trade policies,” said Farmers for Free Trade (FFT) Co-Chair Max Baucus. “American farmers …

AgWired Animal, Ethanol, Exports, International, NPPC, Pork, RFA, Soybean, Trade

American Lamb Board Sets Goal of 2 Percent Annual Growth

Cindy Zimmerman

The American Lamb Board (ALB) has approved a new long range plan for 2018-2022 that sets a bold new demand growth goal. The strategic objective of the plan is to increase demand for American Lamb by 2 percent annually over the next five years, for a total demand growth of 10 percent. Per capita consumption of lamb in the U.S. …

AgWired Animal, American Lamb Board, Lamb, Livestock, Meat