- Legislation introduced in the House and Senate represents nothing more than another attempt to allow activists to dictate to producers, according to the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA). Sens. Booker and Warren have long been supported by animal rights groups, and this collective group of bill sponsors has worked long and hard to dismantle our industry’s only self-funded promotion and education effort. Sens. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Mike Lee (R-Utah), and their partners Sens. Rand Paul, (R-Ky.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) introduced the Senate bill. Reps. Nancy Mace, (R-S.C.), and Dina Titus, (D-Nev.) introduced the House bill.
- NCBA announced the hiring of Rebecca Barnett as Director of Animal Health and Food Safety Policy in our Washington, D.C. office. Rebecca will be working on issues such as traceability, Dietary Guidelines, animal welfare, and food safety.
- The Environmental Stewardship Award Program (ESAP) will hold a reception and awards ceremony on April 25, 2023, in Washington, D.C., in conjunction with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association’s (NCBA) annual Spring Legislative Conference. The evening will feature the announcement of the 2022 ESAP national winner from the group of seven regional winners that were recognized during the Cattle Industry Convention & NCBA Trade Show in New Orleans in February.
- The 2023 World Pork Expo will return to the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines, Iowa, from June 7-9. This year marks the 35th anniversary of the annual event focusing on education, innovation and networking within the pork industry.
- Leaders of Dairy Management Inc. (DMI), the National Dairy Promotion and Research Board (NDB) and the United Dairy Industry Association recently announced election results to lead national dairy checkoff strategies and programs to protect and grow dairy sales and trust. Marilyn Hershey, a farmer from Cochranville, Pa., was re-elected chair of DMI.
- Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative will award five $2,000 secondary education scholarships to its membership, the cooperative announced. Two scholarships will be awarded to students currently enrolled in college or university or a two-year technical, junior or community college. Three scholarships will be awarded to graduating high school seniors. The full application and guidelines can be found on the Edge website.
- Wisconsin again wins more awards than any other state or country during the U.S. Championship Cheese Contest. Wisconsin cheesemakers secure almost half of the 20 finalist honors, including first and second runner-up. Red Barn Family Farms from Appleton, Wisconsin, was named second-best cheese in the country.
- Just in time for National FFA Week, Zoetis formally announced the 2022 results of the Zoetis Industry Support Program. More than $371,930 was donated to FFA chapters nationwide with about 36,500 students benefiting from the contributions. Veterinarians and animal health dealers and distributors make the Industry Support Program possible each year by designating a portion of sales from eligible Zoetis Cattle and Equine products to their local FFA chapters.
- Registration is now open with early savings available for the 2023 Chicken Marketing Summit. The annual executive conference, hosted by WATT Global Media, is scheduled for July 31 – August 2, 2023, at Hotel Effie Sandestin in Miramar Beach, Florida.
