Kansas State University announced that ADM, a global leader in human and animal nutrition, has pledged $1 million to the university’s Global Center for Grain and Food Innovation, one of four new or renovated facilities included in the university’s visionary Agriculture Innovation Initiative led by the College of Agriculture. The ADM investment will support advances in food product development, food safety and food security, sparking industry innovation and elevating the academic experience for K-State students.
The International Dairy Foods Association Foundation and several leading dairy companies donated a truckload of milk and $10,000 to Second Harvest of Coastal Georgia food bank to address hunger in the greater Savannah area. The donations were announced at a three-hour service event at the food bank where more than 60 dairy food company executives packed lunches for food-insecure children in the Savannah area. Altogether, the donations from the IDFA Foundation and its partners will support more than 53,000 meals for people in need.
From National Milk Producers Federation President & CEO Gregg Doud: “NMPF thanks Secretary Vilsack and federal leadership for effectively using their existing authorities to offer necessary assistance for dairy farmers as they meet the challenges of H5N1 in dairy cattle. Care for farm workers and animals is critical for milk producers, as is protecting against potential human health risks and reassuring the public. We look forward to continued collaboration and consultation with USDA and other federal agencies as we monitor, understand, and contain this outbreak, and we will do what we can to help dairy farmers understand and benefit from these initiatives as swift implementation is put into motion.”
Leading dairy representatives from the United States and Mexico met this week in Chihuahua, Mexico to renew their commitment to collaborate and advocate on mutually beneficial dairy policies. The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) and U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC) steered the U.S. delegation, which consisted of more than 14 member companies, U.S. farmer representatives, and USDEC and NMPF staff.
Leaders of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) and Cattle Australia (CA) signed a joint statement at the Beef 2024 convention in Rockhampton, Australia to further the two organizations’ partnership on issues related to cattle health, lab-grown proteins, and sustainability.
As the 57th World Dairy Expo approaches, Expo is searching for college students passionate about the dairy industry to be part of the 2024 media team. Four students will be hired to experience the storied event as media interns. Under the direction of Expo’s communications specialist, media interns assist with media initiatives at World Dairy Expo and the management of the Media Room, Expo’s on-site resource for reporters, writers and photographers. This week-long internship in Madison, Wisconsin provides students with an active role in writing press releases, creating social media content through multiple platforms and contributing to Expo’s on-site newspaper while engaging with media professionals and dairy industry representatives from around the globe.
The 2024 World Pork Expo, hosted by the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC), invites attendees to engage with the latest insights across all facets of the pork industry. This year’s event features a new two-day schedule and the return of the world’s largest pork-specific trade show. Other highlights include the return of free educational seminars and the introduction of the Young Pork Advocates Issues Meet at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines, Iowa.
USPOULTRY hosted its inaugural Public Health Information System (PHIS) Workshop on April 17. Developed in partnership with the Food Safety Advisory Committee, the workshop assisted attendees with navigating the PHIS interface and appropriately responding to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) noncompliance records. Corporate and plant personnel from the broiler and duck industry were represented at the meeting, as PHIS allows for various scopes of access.
To help members drive continuous improvement in the meat industry, the Meat Institute has updated its Animal Handling Guidelines and Animal Welfare Audit to include scores for each criterion allowing members to set goals. The Meat Institute also released a new bison animal welfare audit. The guidelines and audit were authored by the Meat Institute’s Animal Welfare Committee, working with Colorado State University Professor of Animal Behavior Dr. Temple Grandin. The audit was certified by the Professional Animal Auditor Certification Organization.
