- The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) announced that an African Swine Fever Virus vaccine candidate has been adapted to grow in a cell line, which means that those involved in vaccine production will no longer have to rely on live pigs and their fresh cells for vaccine production.
- The American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) announced promotions for six staff who have gone above and beyond in serving AFIA’s members and making the association’s programs and processes more efficient and impactful. For more information, see AFIA’s staff directory.
- The Institute for Feed Education and Research (IFEEDER) announced the addition of Lara Moody as its new executive director, effective April 30.
- During this challenging year, Wisconsin dairy farmers were deemed essential workers, committed to their communities by working every day to provide nutritious dairy products to help feed Americans, and this June is the time to honor them during National Dairy Month. Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin invites consumers to observe National Dairy Month by buying local dairy products to support the farmers who make Wisconsin America’s Dairyland and take pride in caring for their animals while preserving family farmland for future generations.
- Professionals in the pork industry will be the first to have access to the latest production and management strategies at this year’s World Pork Expo. This year’s line-up of PORK Academy and Business Seminars gives producers the opportunity to learn more about topics such as sustainability, data, industry collaborations, nutrition and more. Visitors can find these seminars, networking opportunities, the world’s largest pork trade show and more at the 2021 World Pork Expo, presented by the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC), taking place June 9-11 at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines, Iowa.
- More than 70 U.S. lawmakers sent a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai seeking her support for enhanced Vietnamese market access for U.S. pork. Vietnam represents a tremendous opportunity for U.S. pork exports, and the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) appreciates the tremendous support for one of its top trade priorities.
- Leaders of the National Beef Checkoff Petition Committee sent a letter to the Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion and Research Board (Cattlemen’s Beef Board (CBB)) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) seeking their assistance in offering more U.S. cattle producers the opportunity to sign the petition for a referendum of the beef checkoff program. There has not been a referendum of the mandatory National Beef Checkoff Program in 35 years. Addressed to CBB chair Hugh Sanburg, and the USDA official that oversees the government-controlled national beef checkoff program, Kahl Sesker, the letter asks the two officials to share their electronic databases of persons whose contact information the CBB and USDA have captured through their Web-based platforms as well as the database the CBB and USDA uses to conduct their annual producer attitude survey.
