The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will begin accepting applications starting on Monday, July 1 through its updated Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-raised Fish Program (ELAP) to provide financial assistance to eligible dairy producers who incur milk losses due to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, also known as H5N1infection in their dairy herds. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) expanded ELAP through the rule-making process to assist with a portion of financial losses resulting from reduced milk production when cattle are removed from commercial milking in dairy herds having a confirmed positive H5N1 test. Positive test results must be confirmed through the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL).
As of June 1, there were 74.5 million hogs and pigs on U.S. farms, up one percent from June 2023 and up slightly from March 1, 2024, according to the Quarterly Hogs and Pigs report published by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS).
The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced new action to support the Biden-Harris Administration’s plan for a fairer, more competitive, and more resilient meat and poultry supply chain. USDA’s Fair and Competitive Livestock and Poultry Markets proposed rule would tackle longstanding challenges around interpretations of unfairness and competitive injury for the livestock, meat, and poultry sectors. This will support farmers and growers, and continues President Biden’s work to lower food costs for consumers.
Since the bird flu was first reported in dairy cows on March 25, farmers and ranchers have been looking for more ways to protect their animals and understand the spread of the virus. Agri-Pulse is pleased to host a webinar on July 11 at 1 pm Eastern time that’s focused on what can be done to protect against highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) and other zoonotic diseases that have the potential to disrupt not only our food supply but the entire agriculture economy.
A nutrition incentive program that helps low-income families purchase healthy milk is expanding in more than 500 stores across six states. Midwest retailer Meijer recently doubled the Add Milk! program discount it offers to SNAP-eligible participants – upping it to 40 percent off any brand or size of low-fat or non-fat milk. A community event held at Meijer store in East Lansing, Mich., marked the expansion of the program. U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) was in attendance. The Add Milk! program is made possible by a $4 million cooperative agreement between the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Auburn University’s College of Human Sciences Hunger Solutions Institute (HSI) through a program named Healthy Fluid Milk Incentives (HFMI) Projects. The HFMI pilot program was established as part of the 2018 Farm Bill to promote milk as part of a healthy, balanced diet consistent with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative announced Sammi Nunez as the newest addition to its communication team. As the digital marketing specialist, Nunez will oversee social media strategy and digital marketing efforts for the cooperative and its affiliate organizations.
With more than $2.5 million, the Michigan Alliance for Animal Agriculture (M-AAA) will invest in 23 new research and outreach projects led by Michigan State University researchers and MSU Extension educators. The funding is available through the Fiscal Year 2023-24 Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) budget.
The National Pork Board (NPB) welcomes Patrick Fleming as vice president of demand development. In his new role, Fleming will lead the marketing and domestic demand team on a revolutionary, data-driven approach to make pork more relevant to more Americans. His return to NPB coincides with the culmination of an 18-month effort funded by the Pork Checkoff to develop and deploy new consumer market research and insights across the pork industry.
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision in the case Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo—a decision that reins in the legal concept of Chevron deference and reduces overreaching regulations from federal agencies that lack congressional authority. NCBA previously joined other national agricultural and business organizations in submitting an amicus brief to the Supreme Court arguing for the overruling of Chevron deference.
