Animal Ag News 8/5

Carrie Muehling

  • The American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) expressed its disappointment over the Food and Drug Administration and Association of American Feed Control Officials’ (AAFCO) announcements that they will be ending their longstanding relationship for the review of new animal food ingredients on Oct. 1, abolishing a system that has worked well for decades. The AFIA believes this relationship has been vital for building and maintaining confidence across the food chain that U.S. animal food products are safe – the ultimate goal of the industry’s customers at home and abroad.
  • The U.S. Department of Agriculture has extended the 60-day comment period for their latest Packers and Stockyards proposed rule, “Fair and Competitive Livestock and Poultry Markets,” by 15 days to Sept. 11, 2024. National Cattlemen’s Beef Association says extension is welcome but is not nearly enough time to properly solicit public comment and review a rule that will have such an overarching impact on the cattle industry.
  • Animal challenge studies completed by U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) scientists show that infecting dairy cows with the H5N1 virus in a laboratory setting can trigger clinical signs of disease similar to those of naturally infected animals on dairy farms. The USDA scientists’ animal challenge study showing that field infections of H5N1 can be replicated under laboratory conditions is detailed in a paper that will be submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal.
  • Increasing consumer confidence in how beef is raised may seem like a tall task, but due to ranchers investing time in Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) training, progress is being made one certification at a time. Raised with Respect, a campaign launched in 2023 by Sysco and Certified Angus Beef (CAB), uses BQA as the conduit to talk about cattle care efforts with chefs and consumers purchasing beef.
  • The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) is reminding cattle producers to consult with their tax attorneys regarding the Corporate Transparency Act, with key deadlines approaching at the end of 2024. NCBA’s grassroots members recently passed policy at the 2024 Summer Business Meeting directing the association to take action on the Corporate Transparency Act, including outreach and education to cattle producers.
  • North American Intercollegiate Dairy Challenge (NAIDC) recently elected new leadership, including two new board members and the 2024–2025 Executive Committee. As described in the NAIDC mission statement, the board focus is to “develop tomorrow’s dairy leaders and enhance the progress of the dairy industry, by providing education, communication and networking among students, producers, and agribusiness and university personnel.”
  • Ad Age, the leading global source of news and insights for the advertising and marketing industry, has recognized Suzanne Fanning, CMO of Wisconsin Cheese/EVP of Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin, as one of its Leading Women of 2024. The 2024 list of Leading Women shines a spotlight on a group that is leading the charge for positive change in the industry and finding success in the process.
  • At the urging of the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC), a newly published U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) study found zero Trichinella positives in more than 3.2 million pork samples, demonstrating to domestic and global consumers the safety of U.S. pork.
  • The primary objective of the 2023 Farmer Focus marketing campaign was to tell the stories of the growers behind its poultry products through in-store packaging, website and social media. As a result, Farmer Focus was recognized as the 2024 winner of the Chicken Marketer of the Year during Chicken Marketing Summit.
  • The 2025 International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE) is still six months away and has already surpassed 557,000 square feet of exhibit space and secured more than 1,070 exhibitors. As the only annual exposition highlighting the best of the poultry and egg, meat, and animal food industries, the 2025 IPPE will offer timely and critical information, providing producers and processors an efficient way to find solutions to enhance their operations.
  • Environmental managers in the poultry and egg industry face a range of challenges, including water quality, wastewater management, air emissions, sustainability and regulatory compliance. To help navigate these evolving issues, the USPOULTRY 2024 Environmental Management Seminar, scheduled for Sept. 19-20 at the Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa in Destin, Fla., will provide an invaluable opportunity to stay updated on the latest trends. The seminar will also feature the announcement of the 2024 Clean Water Award winners, complemented by a virtual tour of their facilities.
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