The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded Auburn University’s Hunger Solutions Institute (HSI) a $2.99 million grant, using FY2025 funding appropriated by Congress, to expand SNAP Healthy Fluid Milk Incentives (HFMI) projects across 169 SNAP-authorized retail stores in nine states. The award includes 75 new HFMI locations in Arkansas, Georgia, Kansas, Minnesota, and Oklahoma, along with the renewal of 94 existing sites in Alabama, California, and South Dakota. By scaling this targeted SNAP incentive, USDA is equipping more retailers to help SNAP households purchase fluid milk—one of the most under-consumed, nutrient-dense foods identified in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans—while reinforcing the critical role dairy plays in improving diet quality and advancing public health. Since 2020, HFMI has expanded to more than 1,270 retail stores in 33 states. The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) welcomed the announcement, highlighting HFMI as a proven approach to encouraging healthier food choices through the SNAP program.
USPOULTRY will hold its annual Poultry Processor Workshop on May 20-21 in Greenville, S.C. This year’s program will focus on leadership and operational excellence, along with a U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service update and discussions on retained water and overall operational efficiencies, including preventive maintenance and the use of data analytics to enhance plant performance. The program will also address packaging considerations, including producer responsibility and sustainability.
The Joint Poultry Industry Safety Award Program is now accepting applications from poultry industry facilities that have demonstrated exceptional safety programs. This award program is open to members of the National Chicken Council (NCC), National Turkey Federation (NTF) and U.S. Poultry & Egg Association (USPOULTRY). Eligible facilities include poultry processing plants, further processing facilities, egg processing plants, hatcheries, feed mills, animal support services and rendering facilities. To qualify, applicants must have implemented innovative and effective safety programs as well as have maintained injury and illness rates below the industry average for three consecutive years. Award program rules, regulations and application forms can be accessed here. The application deadline is May 15.
Public lands ranchers joined Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, as the secretaries signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to launch their Grazing Action Plan. National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) and Public Lands Council (PLC) leaders and members then participated in a roundtable discussing cooperative work to address longstanding challenges for federal lands grazing permittees.
Zinpro Corporation, the world’s leading innovator and manufacturer of high-performance organic trace minerals and animal nutrition solutions, announced the release of its 2025 Sustainability Report, highlighting meaningful progress across environmental stewardship, innovation, social impact and industry collaboration.
DairyKind, the UC Davis CLEAR Center and Alltech have collaborated to develop a pair of educational videos focused on clarifying what sustainability means within the cattle industry. The videos deliver the same core content, with one presented in English and the other in Spanish. This ensures greater accessibility and provides a valuable educational resource for Spanish-speaking audiences across the 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. Completed applications must be received no later than May 15 at 11:59 p.m. CST.
The National Pork Producers Council elected new officers and board members to lead the organization through the 2026-2027 term. These experienced leaders will guide NPPC’s advocacy efforts, advancing policies that support the growth, sustainability, and long-term resilience of the U.S. pork industry.
