The Institute for Feed Education and Research (IFEEDER), in collaboration with the American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) and North American Renderers Association’s (NARA) research arm the Fats and Proteins Research Foundation (FPRF), announced a new report that quantifies the amount of feed consumed by America’s major livestock, poultry and aquaculture species. In 2023, U.S. livestock, poultry and farmed aquaculture consumed approximately 283.6 million tons of feed, according to the IFEEDER report.
After more than a decade of innovation labs that have helped feed the world and improve global food systems in partnership with the U.S. federal government, Kansas State University will suspend the operation of its two current Feed the Future Innovation Labs on April 12. Due to the recent federal transition, the U.S. Agency for International Development, or USAID, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service issued stop-work orders in late January on various grant funded projects, which included Feed the Future Innovation Labs and other international projects at several land-grant universities across the U.S. Under these and other federal orders, related grant-funded research at these universities was paused, including at K-State. In late February, many stop-work orders became grant terminations, pausing or suspending various research on crop resilience and other projects.
Kendall Snyder, North Carolina State University, was awarded the Frank Perdue Scholarship Student of the Year during the USPOULTRY Foundation College Student Career Program, held in conjunction with the 2025 International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE). This scholarship pays tribute to Frank Perdue’s commitment to mentoring young individuals pursuing careers in the poultry industry. Perdue was a dedicated supporter of the College Student Career Program, actively participating in student interviews for many years. Ella Taylor and Matthew Hughes, both from Auburn University, were recognized in second and third place.
The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) elected new officers and board members to lead the organization through the 2025-2026 term. These seasoned leaders will continue to advocate for policies benefiting U.S. pork producers, ensuring the industry’s growth, sustainability, and resilience on a national level.
The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) is proud to announce the induction of Dr. Howard Hill into the NPPC Hall of Fame during the 2025 National Pork Industry Forum (NPIF). This prestigious award recognizes individuals who have dedicated their lives to advancing the pork industry.
Applications are being accepted for college scholarships that are awarded by America’s dairy farmers and importers through the National Dairy Promotion and Research Board (NDB). Eleven scholarships worth $2,500 each will be awarded, in addition to a $3,500 James H. Loper Jr. Memorial Scholarship to one outstanding recipient. NDB funds, in part, Dairy Management Inc. (DMI), which manages the national dairy checkoff program. Applications can be found at dairycheckoff.com/about-us/scholarship.
Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative will once again offer $10,000 in secondary education scholarships to its membership, the cooperative announced. Edge is proud to award the children of its members who exemplify the voice of milk through their education, career aspirations and future goals. Two $2,000 scholarships will be awarded to current students pursuing a degree in a four—or two-year program, and three $2,000 scholarships will be awarded to high school seniors. The application portal will remain open until April 18, and applications must be submitted by that date.
The National Milk Producers Federation announced the creation of the Dr. Peter Vitaliano Legacy Scholarship as part of the National Dairy Leadership Scholarship Program. The award will be used to help support a student who demonstrates attributes exemplified by Dr. Vitaliano to honor his longtime commitment to the success of U.S. dairy producers and cooperatives.
National Cattlemen’s Beef Association‘s (NCBA) Chief Counsel Mary-Thomas Hart issued a statement in response to the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) release of guidance for implementing the “continuous surface connection” definition under the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule: “For years, NCBA has worked across the federal government – educating members of Congress, participating in agency rulemakings, and fighting for cattle producers in federal court – to secure a WOTUS definition that protects both our nation’s natural resources and Americans’ property rights. We are proud of the Trump Administration’s effort to further conform the WOTUS definition to the Supreme Court’s decision in Sackett v. EPA. Today’s guidance is an important step toward refocusing the Clean Water Act to its original purpose. NCBA thanks EPA Administrator Zeldin for his work to finally close a decades-long chapter of severe regulatory whiplash.”
One of the most widely consumed proteins in the world, goat is gaining traction in the U.S. market. Goat from Australia – the main supplier of goat meat to the U.S. – is high in protein, low in fat and cholesterol, free range, Halal certified and has no added hormones or antibiotics – key claims sought by a growing number of Americans. Thomas Foods International (TFI), USA, the leader in the goat meat market, will highlight its growing portfolio of goat products, including brand-new, value-added options, at the Annual Meat Conference (AMC), March 24 – 26 in Orlando. The protein’s expanding availability from TFI, a trusted supplier of proteins to U.S. retail and foodservice, furthers goat’s desirability as an in-home and out-of-home culinary option.
