There were 87.2 million head of cattle and calves on U.S. farms as of Jan. 1, 2024, according to the Cattle report published by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS).
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) announced support for the bipartisan Fair and Accurate Ingredient Representation on Labels Act of 2024 (FAIR Labels Act) introduced by Sen. Roger Marshall (R-KS), Rep. Mark Alford (R-MO), Rep. Roger Williams (R-TX), Rep. Don Davis (D-NC), and Rep. Jonathan Jackson (D-IL). The bill would end deceptive labeling practices on fake meat products and ensure that consumers know exactly what they are buying at the grocery store.
Megan Eckhardt of New Braunfels, Texas, and Jaime Luke of Stanberry, Missouri, were each awarded a $15,000 W.D. Farr Scholarship by the National Cattlemen’s Foundation (NCF). In addition, 10 students pursuing careers in the beef industry were awarded $1,500 scholarships by the National Cattlemen’s Foundation. The CME Group Beef Industry Scholarship program recognizes talented and thoughtful students emerging as industry leaders.
The Dairy Business Association, Wisconsin’s leading dairy advocacy group, elected three directors to its board during the group’s annual meeting today at the 2024 Dairy Strong conference.
The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) announced new members of the organization’s Executive Council as well as new directors for the group’s five Industry Segment Boards. IDFA’s Executive Council is composed of executives from across the dairy foods industry and focuses on the business and operations of the association.
Rob Shumaker of Great Lakes Cheese received the International Dairy Foods Association’s (IDFA) 2024 Food Safety Leadership Award during IDFA’s Dairy Forum. The award, now in its eighth year, honors an individual, group or organization for demonstrating outstanding leadership directed at enhancing food safety within the dairy products industry.
Mikell Fries, Claxton Poultry Farms, Claxton, Georgia, was elected chair of the board of directors of U.S. Poultry & Egg Association (USPOULTRY). The board meeting was held during the International Poultry Expo, part of the 2024 International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE). Fries previously served as vice chair.
Tom Hensley, president of Fieldale Farms, was named USPOULTRY’s Workhorse of the Year during the International Poultry Expo, part of the 2024 International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE). 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.
John Starkey, former president of the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association (USPOULTRY), was honored by USPOULTRY during the 2024 International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE), where he received the Harold E. Ford Lifetime Achievement Award. This prestigious honor was presented to Starkey by Nath Morris, president of USPOULTRY.
USPOULTRY and the USPOULTRY Foundation are pleased to recognize Dr. Darrin Karcher as the recipient of the annual Dr. Charles Beard Research Excellence Award. Dr. Karcher is an associate professor of animal sciences at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, and an adjunct associate professor of animal sciences at Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan. The award is named in honor of Dr. Charles Beard, former director of the Southeast Poultry Research Laboratory and former vice president of research at USPOULTRY.
The 2024 International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE) has the largest trade show floor ever with 621,350 square feet of exhibit space and 1,427 exhibitors. This year, IPPE has more than 31,000 poultry and egg, meat, and animal food industry attendees representing 130+ countries. Sponsored by the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association, American Feed Industry Association and the Meat Institute, IPPE is the world’s largest annual poultry and egg, meat and animal food industry event of its kind.
