- U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) re-introduced two cattle-focused bills to improve the industry – his Butcher Block Act with co-lead Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) and the Amplifying Processing of Livestock in the United States (A-PLUS) Act with lead Rep. Mark Alford (R-MO). According to a 2020 report, an increase of packing capacity by 5,000-6,000 head of fed cattle per day is needed to get back to the historic baseline. Building new facilities could cost $100-250 million for every 1,000 head of cattle processed daily, according to estimates. The Butcher Block Act would establish a grant and loan program at USDA for new and expanding meat processors to drive competition within the packing industry.
- As he works through the transition process to step away from a daily role on his family’s fifth-generation ranch outside Casper, Wyo., Brad Boner stepped into a new role during the American Sheep Industry Association’s Annual Convention. He will serve as ASI president for the next two years after unanimous election by the ASI Board of Directors.
- The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) named Mike Aquino as director, ESG (environment, social and governance). Aquino was trained as a food scientist at Drexel University and has since held several professional positions in the food and agriculture space, including with Danone’s research and development pilot facility in White Plains, N.Y., and on the Global Sustainability Team at General Mills addressing corporate citizenship issues such as Scope 3 emissions reduction planning and animal welfare.
- The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) has filed a Notice of Intent to sue the Department of the Interior and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) over the listing of the lesser prairie chicken under the Endangered Species Act. This is the first step in court toward overturning the listing and revoking FWS’s final rule for both the Northern and Southern Distinct Population Segments.
- The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) commended Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and leading congressional dairy advocates for providing $100 million in additional, targeted payments under the Pandemic Market Volatility Assistance Program that will aid medium-sized and larger producers who missed out on equitable payments during the first round of assistance in 2021.
- Bar 20 Dairy of Kerman, Calif., was recognized as the 2023 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. Bar 20 Dairy, owned by third-generation dairy farmer Steve Shehadey along with seven other family members, is a 7,000-cow dairy that also farms 5,000 acres in the San Joaquin Valley.
- The Dairy Business Association elected a new president during the group’s annual business meeting at DBA’s Dairy Strong conference. Lee Kinnard of Kinnard Farms in Casco, Wis., will enter his two-year term as president. Kinnard serves on several boards, including Peninsula Pride Farms and Farmers for Sustainable Food. He previously served as vice president of DBA.
- Jarod Morrison, Farbest Foods, Huntingburg, Indiana, was elected chairman of the board of directors of U.S. Poultry & Egg Association. The board meeting was held during the International Poultry Expo, part of the 2023 International Production & Processing Expo. Morrison previously served as vice chairman.
- Greg Hinton, vice president of sales for Rose Acre Farms, was named USPOULTRY’s Workhorse of the Year during the International Poultry Expo, part of the 2023 International Production & Processing Expo. The poultry industry’s most prestigious honor is awarded annually in recognition of dedicated service and valuable leadership given to the Association and poultry industry.
- The 2023 International Production & Processing Expo has been a successful trade show with strong crowds, busy exhibitors and great energy evident throughout the trade show floor. This year, IPPE has approximately 28,000 attendees, 533,000 square feet of exhibit space and 1,180-plus exhibitors. Attendee numbers will be released after the registration database has been audited for duplications. Sponsored by the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association, American Feed Industry Association and the North American Meat Institute, IPPE is the world’s largest annual poultry and egg, meat and animal food industry event of its kind.
- “People worry climate policy will be done to them and not with them,” remarked Robert Bonnie, Under Secretary of Farm Production and Conservation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), during the Animal Agriculture Sustainability Summit held at the 2023 International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE). The Animal Agriculture Sustainability Summit is sponsored by the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association, along with the American Feed Industry Association and the North American Meat Institute.
- Over 500 ranchers gathered last week for the National Bison Association Winter Conference, and brought with them about 100 head of live bison to the National Western Stock show to participate in the Gold Trophy Show and Sale.
- Cattle producers, veterinarians and industry representatives attending the 2023 National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Convention in New Orleans can learn more about new Tulieve (tulathromycin injection), the newest anti-infective product from Norbrook.
