- The newest episode of the Dairy Stream podcast features Greg Ibach, undersecretary for marketing and regulatory programs at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Ibach’s agency is at the center of the federal government’s response to farmers who are trying to manage the unprecedented challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.
- U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue applauded the safe reopening of critical infrastructure meatpacking facilities across the United States. These meatpacking facilities have resumed or plan to resume operations this week following President Trump’s Executive Order directing the facilities to implement the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration guidelines specifically created for the meat and poultry sector response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The U.S. Department of Agriculture in conjunction with the CDC and state and local health officials have been working around the clock to ensure a safe and stable supply of protein is available for American consumers all while keeping employees safe.
- From astronaut to economist, the Alltech ONE Virtual Experience welcomes a stellar keynote lineup to this year’s program. A different keynote presentation will be streamed each day beginning Monday, May 18, through Friday, May 22.
- During this unprecedented time, Kent Nutrition Group is responding to the pork industry’s need for options to manage feed intake and weight gain. Packing plant closures and slowdowns have placed a critical strain on the industry as market hogs are held longer than expected. KNG swine nutritionists have promising results from an ongoing trial at the KNG Research Farm of over 400 finishing pigs. For the nation’s pork producers, these results can provide viable feeding options until processors can receive pigs.
- The American Sheep Industry Association has completed the development of the Secure Sheep and Wool Supply Plan for Business Continuity in a Foot and Mouth Disease Outbreak. ASI worked with the Center for Food Security and Public Health at the Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine to develop this plan.
- USPOULTRY and the USPOULTRY Foundation have approved approximately $400,000 for seven new research grants at six institutions through the comprehensive research program.
- The American Feed Industry Association and Kansas State University have launched an online and on-demand extension of their well-respected AFIA/KSU-500, “Fundamentals of Feed Manufacturing,” online course. The online modules are ideal for employees who need to understand more about the animal food industry or their specific role in the operation.
- Kincannon & Reed welcomes Jimmy Paulakuhn as Managing Director focusing on the talent acquisition needs of its Animal Agriculture clients. Based in North Carolina, Jimmy brings more than two decades of experience within these markets, including more than six years as Director of Commercial Poultry Operations at Pfizer and two years as Zoetis’s National Sales Director-US Poultry.
- The South Dakota Beef Industry Council‘s May Beef Month campaign focuses on the past, present and future in regard to the role that beef has played throughout history and highlights how Beef has ALWAYS been What’s For Dinner. Part of the campaign is bringing back a new version the SD Beef Ambassador program.
- A DCHA webinar featuring Kevin Dhuyvetter will address the “Economic Cost of Respiratory Disease in Dairy Replacement Heifers.” The webinar is scheduled for May 21 at 2:00 p.m. Central time. Register here.
- In a bipartisan letter to President Donald Trump, House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson of Minnesota urged the Administration to provide guidance on how the Federal Emergency Management Agency can help farmers depopulate and dispose of livestock following the closure of meatpacking plants due to coronavirus outbreaks and worker safety concerns. Joining Peterson on the letter is House Agriculture Livestock and Foreign Agriculture Subcommittee Chairman Jim Costa of California, and a group of lawmakers representing Minnesota, Illinois, Iowa and South Dakota. A copy of the letter is available here.
