U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) re-introduced two cattle-focused bills to improve the industry – his Butcher Block Act with co-lead Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) and the Amplifying Processing of Livestock in the United States (A-PLUS) Act with lead Rep. Mark Alford (R-MO). According to a 2020 report, an increase of packing capacity by 5,000-6,000 head of fed cattle per day …

The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) announced new members of the organization’s Executive Council as well as new directors for the group’s five Industry Segment Boards. Patricia D. Stroup, senior vice president and chief procurement officer of Nestle S.A., and CEO of Nestrade S.A., was selected to chair the IDFA Executive Council. Mike Durkin, president and CEO of Leprino Foods …

John Starkey has announced his upcoming retirement as president of U.S. Poultry & Egg Association (USPOULTRY). A search committee for his replacement will be formed at the January USPOULTRY board meeting, and a selection process and timeline will be established. Once a successor is in place, Starkey will remain available in an advisory role for the remainder of 2023. The …

EmGenisys, Inc., an animal health technology company on the path to revolutionize the bovine embryo industry, was one of the ten semi-finalists competing in the 2023 American Farm Bureau Federation Ag Innovation Challenge this week in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Under the theme of “The Bison Benefit – Good for US, Good for our Planet”, preparations are in full swing …

As of Dec. 1, there were 73.1 million hogs and pigs on U.S. farms, down 2% from December 2021 and down 1% from Sept. 1, 2022, according to the Quarterly Hogs and Pigs report published by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). “The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) applauds Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr’s announcement on …

Students from Oklahoma State University and Auburn University took home the top prizes in the Animal Agriculture Alliance’s 2022 College Aggies Online scholarship program. Participants reached more than 8.5 million people online and in their local communities over the course of the nine-week competition. More than $18,000 was awarded in scholarships to students and clubs. National Cattlemen’s Beef Association welcomed …

The National Pork Producers Council is pleased to announce that Julie Schwalbe has accepted the director of industry resource development position for the National Pork Producers Council. Schwalbe will oversee the Pork Alliance membership retention and recruitment, serve as a member of the World Pork Expo team, assist with raising Pork PAC funding and attract revenue from sponsorships thru business …

PIC (Pig Improvement Company) announced it has made a strategic minority investment in SwineTech, a farm management solutions company. As part of the investment, PIC and SwineTech will develop a strategic relationship to explore and advance the continued development of innovative products and approaches for improving the predictability and efficiency of swine production. National Cattlemen’s Beef Association CEO Colin Woodall …

The International Dairy Federation World Dairy Summit brings unique opportunities for U.S. dairy as the host nation for the Chicago event, to be held next Oct. 16-19. The global conference returns to the United States for the first time in three decades, at a moment when rising exports and world-leading sustainability gives the U.S. industry a great story to tell, …