- With the spread of COVID-19 and its impact on so many Americans, Zoetis is recognizing the resilience of cattle producers and initiating a special fundraising initiative to support those in need. Zoetis is asking cow/calf producers to submit inspiring pictures or videos at CalvingSeason.com to celebrate the commitment of cattle producers, and in turn, every submission will raise money to meet the challenges posed by this global crisis. For every photo or video submitted at CalvingSeason.com between April 17 and May 29, Zoetis will donate $1 to the COVID-19 Response Fund with Feeding America®.
- The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced a COVID-19 relief package that includes $3 billion in planned agricultural product purchases and $1.6 billion in direct payments to hog farmers, including payment limitations of $125,000 per commodity and $250,000 per individual. Industry economists conservatively estimate that hog farmers will lose $37 per hog marketed, or $5 billion collectively, for the remainder of the year. Howard “A.V.” Roth, president of the National Pork Producers Council and a hog farmer from Wauzeka, Wisconsin, responded on behalf of the organization.
- National Cattlemen’s Beef Association President Marty Smith issued a statement applauding the announcement related to USDA’s plan for distribution of CARES Act funding.
- Promotion programs being managed by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association as a contractor to the Beef Checkoff have shifted and grown in response to the worldwide coronavirus pandemic. These efforts reflect a consumer population that is concerned for their day-to-day health and the availability of delicious, safe and wholesome food products, like beef.
- GENYOUth, a nonprofit organization founded by dairy farmers through their checkoff to create healthier schools, named Maureen Bausch as Chief Development Officer – GENYOUth COVID-19 Emergency School Nutrition Fund.
- ANIMART, LLC (Beaver Dam, WI), Animal Profiling International (Portland, OR), Midwest Supply & Distributing (St. Joseph, MN) and Stockmen’s Supply (Mandan, ND) have become Armor Animal Health.
- Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin and the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection have been fielding calls from concerned consumers and farmers about retailers limiting the amount of dairy that shoppers can purchase. The two organizations have been working diligently to contact retailers in Wisconsin to understand why, to urge them to lift the limits, and to continue to drive consumer demand for dairy.
- The United Food and Commercial Workers International Union, which represents more than 250,000 meatpacking and food processing workers all across the country, announced an agreement with JBS — the leading processor of beef and pork in the United States — to increase wages for workers by $4 per hour and further strengthen safety measures in these plants.
